~ chapter 9 ~

The air in the old soap factory literally crackled with tense uncertainty as Liz and Kyle stood below staring into each others' eyes. Cole had no idea what Liz's reaction to Kyle's suggestive taunting would be. Apparently, neither did Liz.

A thousand feelings rushed through Liz as Kyle advanced on her. Fear. Disgust. Weakness. His clumsy, rough fingers sliding over her face made her stomach wretch. The suggestive tone of his voice brought a lump of bile to her throat as her mind filled with images that threatened to overwhelm her. That night at the soap factory party all those years ago. The first time Kyle's anger had exploded and Liz experienced first hand the power of a Valenti right hook when his fist collided with her face. The night he…

Take the chance to make a new memory of this place, Liz. Max's voice softly echoed through Liz's brain as she stared into Kyle's ice blue eyes and felt his warm, stale breath on her face. You're strong enough to do it. Liz almost laughed at the concept.

Her? Strong? The girl who had been running from her past so long she didn't know how to stop? Or even if she could? Then she remembered the way Max looked at her. So much confidence. Belief. Trust. It meant just as much to Max for her to stand strong against Kyle as it did for her. So, stand strong she would. For Max. After all, she did promise him she wouldn't let him down…

Immobility and uncertainty were shattered when Liz suddenly knocked Kyle's hand away from her face as her other hand landed on his chest pushing him forcefully backward. Watching him stumble then regain his balance, Liz's eyes flickered with confidence then darkened to ebony as their expression hardened into a frozen glare. "My fantasies?" A wry smile passed over her lips before they tightened into a thin line. "I've got news for you, Kyle. Even when I wore your ring on my finger, you never once factored into any of my fantasies. Those *always* belonged to Max."

Seeing Kyle momentarily stunned by the force of her actions and words, Liz realized surprise had momentarily mastered him and she found the courage to go on. "And speaking of Max…" Her eyes softened perceptibly, unconsciously, as Max's name passed her lips. Her voice lowered with meaning. "I have fantasies about that man that you could never even begin to comprehend."

She tilted her head to the side and her smile widened dreamily as feelings flooded her system. The tingle from Max's warm lips pressed against hers still danced on her lips. The warmth of his arms still burned where he'd wrapped them tightly...possessively...around her waist. The way she felt so at home in his arms washed over her making her slightly dizzy with possibilities of the future. It was a feeling she'd never truly known before. The feeling of being completely, every-cell-in-her-body, every-feeling-in-her-soul, every-beat-of-her-heart…*alive*.

A sigh accompanied her pause before her eyes brightened. "And you know what? He not only knows them, he makes every last one of them come true."

Wrapped in her own world now, Liz shook her dark head and unconsciously folded her arms around her trying to hold in the feeling of safety and acceptance she found in Max's arms as a thoughtful expression claimed her face. "No, that's not quite right. He doesn't just make them come true…he…makes them better than even *I* can comprehend…"

Believe me, that's a feat. Liz added silently not wanting to overplay her 'relationship' hand with Kyle. Or even start to believe it herself too much. Not this early in the game.

"Riiiight." Kyle found his voice again. He couldn't believe Liz. The way she pushed him away. Stood up to him. Defended…no, that wasn't the right word. Gushed. That was it. The way she gushed over Max. Looked like he was going to have to show Liz all over again just whom she belonged to. Once Kyle did speak the disbelief and sarcasm made its appearance in full force. He hated Max Evans and simply couldn't mask it. "Timid, boring, passionless Max Evans. The guy that barely spoke a word to you in high school…"

"He's more than made up for that now. And if you think he's timid, boring and passionless…you don't know Max. He has more passion in his pinky than you could muster in your entire pathetic life." Liz's voice lowered suggestively when her eyes flicked back to his. She'd seen Kyle's reaction to the idea of Max being her fantasy. She could easily use this to her advantage. To prove to Kyle he no longer had a hold on her.

Or maybe it was to prove it to herself. Eyelashes batted adoringly as she continued. "I love his reserve. It's endearing. Besides, I've found that action is the most able communicator and Max is most *definitely* a man of action. What that man can do to me without saying a word..." Liz shrugged her shoulders slightly and turned a coy, meaningful look on Kyle. "And there are, of course, those things better left unsaid because feeling them instead is so much more..." Liz sucked in her breath slowly and released a sigh. "...pleasurable. And satisfying."

Kyle didn't miss her meaning. Not by a long shot. Anger started boiling inside of him at the thought of another man touching Liz. *His* Liz. He couldn't let it show. Not yet. Feeling control of the conversation landsliding in Liz's direction, Kyle clear his throat and fought to gain that much needed control back with a plastered grin and a raised eyebrow. "Satisfying? I'm surprised Max Evans is man enough for a woman like you."

Liz chuckled with a secret smile. "Oh, you don't have to worry about that, Kyle. Max is more than enough for me." Her brows furrowed momentarily as if in thought before her double-meaning words began. "And you know, I noticed you've not changed much. You're nothing more than you were back then." She allowed her eyes to drop suggestively. "Maybe even less now." Her gaze returned to his face to catch his reaction and wasn't disappointed by the fierce set of his jaw. "You're still looking for a challenge aren't you? A way to prove you're a bigger man than the next guy."

Casting her gaze upward a light laugh escaped her as she shook her head. "Here's a friendly warning for you. Don't choose Max as an opponent. Because if you're looking for some kind of war, not only could Max more than hold his own against any little testosterone-induced game you'd like to play, he'll demolish you and walk away without a second thought."

"Really?" Kyle's eyes narrowed. He didn't like the direction this conversation was going at all. Watching Liz's eyes sparkle with pride when she mentioned Max's name made Kyle's skin crawl. She couldn't possibly be…happy. Could she? Nah. Kyle dismissed the thought immediately. Not with a loser like Max.

"So. You're taste in men hasn't changed that much then has it? You're still looking for that larger-than-life kind of guy. That dream that no man can ever really live up to. You know that's what our problem was. You expected the impossible."

"Being a decent human being is impossible?" Liz quipped back quickly her body stiffening at Kyle's words. "Funny. Max doesn’t seem to have a problem being that...and so much more."

"Maybe that's because you're picture-perfect relationship is only that. A picture." Kyle stated as he slowly took a step toward her hoping to shake her into giving up the upperhand. And he knew just the thing that could do it. "That's it, isn't it? You've only let him see what you want him to see. That's why he's hung around this long." Kyle's eyes bored into Liz's face searching her expression and finding a hint of truth to his words being reflected back to him. "He doesn't know, does he?"

Liz swallowed and painted on a smile while affecting a bored attitude. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure you do, Lizzie." Kyle was standing in front of her now. His voice low. His eyes trained on hers suspiciously. "I'm talking about us. What happened between us. What…won't happen with you and Max. Or anyone for that matter…"

Liz's eyes filmed with tears instantly that she quickly blinked back. His words pushed the breath out of her lungs and when she spoke it was barely above a whisper. "You are a cruel person, Kyle. To bring that up now…"

"Does he know?" Kyle pressed ignoring her comment.

Jaws tightened with hatred as anger flared in Liz's eyes. She pushed her answer out of tight lips. "No. He doesn't. Your secret is safe."

"Good." Kyle nodded and brought his hand back up to caress her cheek. Liz flinched at his touch. Kyle continued meaningfully as if he didn't notice. "It's good to have someone you can trust with your deepest, darkest secrets, Lizzie. Since I know I can trust you…I want you to be able to trust me too. Especially since we share the same secret." He leaned in close and whispered in her ear ominously. "In fact, I'm counting on it."

Liz closed her eyes as she felt his breath against her skin as his lips moved to nuzzle her neck. It was hot and moist and smelled with a hint of alcohol. She fought the bile that rose in her throat. To keep her body from shaking uncontrollably. Or the tears from squeezing out of her eyes. She needed to maintain control. Of her fear. Her strength. The situation. Unlike she had that night…

Kyle knew what he was doing. Taunting her. Reminding her. Putting her in her place…under his control. She refused to be intimidated like this. She wouldn't be bullied by Kyle, secret or not. Not now. There was only one way to show him his games wouldn't work with her...

Liz snaked her arms around Kyle's neck and pulled him closer, running her fingers through his greasy hair as she seductively whispered his name in his ear. "Oh, Kyle…get used to…"

Kyle smiled against her hair as he breathed in her scent and heard her nearly moan his name. His arms moved to wrap around her waist but didn't meet their target before Liz spoke again, her voice strong and determined in his ear. "…counting on something else." Liz brought her knee up swiftly and connected with Kyle's stomach forcefully. Kyle doubled over in pain and gasped at the strength of her hit then landed with a thud on the ground as she pushed him backwards.

Bending at the waist, Liz placed her hands on her knees and leaned over with a slight grin as she watched Kyle hold his stomach and writhe on the ground in pain. "Try touching me again and next time I'll aim lower and hit harder." Liz moved to walk around Kyle when he called out to her.

"Leave now and you won't get what you came for." Kyle called out to her weakly, tauntingly.

Something in Kyle's voice made Liz stop mid-stride. She let out a sigh and called back to him without turning around. "I'm tired of your games, Kyle. So you have 3 seconds to tell me what the hell you're talking about."

"The instructions your superior at the FBI promised you."

Liz spun around and stared at Kyle as he slowly struggled to his feet and held out a long white envelope. "How did you know?" She swallowed hard as her gaze moved to the proffered envelope.

Kyle shrugged as a triumphant grin spread over his face. "How do you think? I'm your partner, Liz."

"What?" Her voice was barely a whisper as her eyes shot to lock with Kyle's. "That's impossible..."

"Why? Because you already have one by the name of Max Evans?"

Liz's eyes snapped to his face. She couldn't tell whether he knew the truth of her partnership with Max or if he was just guessing. She doubted her superior would blow her cover completely...not even to the local sheriff. No matter what, she wouldn't give Kyle the satisfaction. She wouldn't be the one to confirm his suspicions. "No. Not at all. Max is my boyfriend, Kyle. He has nothing to do with the line of work I'm in. As far as he knows, we're here to spend time with my family. I just…" Liz took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she tried to gather her thoughts. "…you as my partner is…unthinkable."

"Not quite as unthinkable as you would like to believe, Lizzie. Especially not when you see your instructions." Kyle held the envelope out to her once more. "Here. I suggest you take it before loveboy comes looking for you. You'll have a hard time explaining what's inside." He couldn't resist one more jab. "Unless, of course, lying to him comes as easily as breathing to you..."

Liz swallowed hard and advanced forward ripping the envelope out of Kyle's hand. She cast him a defiant look then tore open the seal on the envelope to pull out the contents. Her eyes narrowed then widened as they quickly scanned the beginning of her newly written instructions. "The subject of your investigation...Max Evans."

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"Yes, sir. I'll keep you posted on developments." Max nodded absently as his gaze remained fixed on the factory door.

He was leaning against the hood of their rented car, foot on the bumper, elbow resting on his knee as his hand held his cell phone to his ear while he talked to his superior like he didn't have a care in the world. In fact, his casual stance contradicted the very thoughts running through his mind. The tenseness in his muscles. The dryness of his mouth.

Maybe he shouldn't have left her alone with Kyle. What if that past she found so painful was too much to handle alone? She would let him know, wouldn't she? Or would she? Would she test that independent streak he found so appealing and try to handle Kyle all on her own whether she was in over her head or not?

Director Valenti's next words pull Max back to his present conversation and away from the one currently going on behind the closed doors of the factory. "And your partner?"

Max blinked then smiled unconsciously. "Oh, yeah. Liz."

Valenti sighed into the phone. "I know it was bad of me to not tell you exactly who was going to be meeting you at the airport, Max. I was concerned you'd back out if I did. For someone who works alone, I wasn't sure how you'd handle having a female agent..."

Max cleared his throat. "You're right. It was bad of you. I *would* have appreciated the warning, but..." His eyes began to shine as his mind drifted back to the way her head fit so perfectly on his shoulder. How her hair smelled. The way her laugh filled his heart. And that amazing kiss they had shared. "...I...I think we'll be able to...manage...together."

"Just manage?" Valenti asked with a hint of jest in his voice.

Max nodded though Valenti couldn't see him and rolled his eyes when he heard the tease in the director's voice. "Ok. So we'll more than manage. For the situation, the town, the case...I think she's..." Max let out an absent sigh as his smile deepened. "...she's perfect."

"Perfect?" Even Ma Bell couldn't keep Jim Valenti's smile from being carried over the telephone lines. "This is a first. Max Evans admitting that any woman was perfect for him..."

Sliding off the hood of the car, Max began a short pace back and forth between the car and the door to the factory. "Not for *me*. For the job." He clarified quickly with a lie. "*Just* the job."

"Right." Valenti chuckled. "You know, Max, Liz Parker is a very attractive..."

"Agent." Max interrupted as his face began to color. If his boss could sense his attraction for Liz thousands of miles away...over the phone, no less...then Max was in BIG trouble. Liz would be able to pick up on it with that eagle-sharp perception he'd detected in her gaze earlier. Especially since she seemed to have no problems getting up close and personal with him...

He cleared his throat again. "She's an agent, sir. And she will be treated as such." Max words would have been more convincing if his voice had held even a note of belief in his statement. As it was, Jim Valenti knowingly smiled again into the phone before seriousness took control.

"Actually, that's good to hear, Max." He leaned back in his leather chair and placed his feet on his desk. "You do know about her history...with my son, Kyle."

Max swallowed hard. "Yes, sir. I know."

"How much?"

"Enough." Max answered unsure of where this line of questioning was leading. And not really sure he wanted to at this point. He even began to wonder just how much the director knew of his own son's affairs. "Why? Is there something I need to know?"

There was a pause on the other end before Valenti answered. "Just...be careful, ok? Because I'd really hate to loose an agent over a broken heart."

Max's gaze flitted to the factory door. "Don't worry, sir. I'll make sure Liz doesn't get hurt."

"Actually, Max..." Valenti took a deep breath and let out a sigh. "...I was talking about you." His chair creaked beneath him as he swung his feet back to the floor and leaned forward. "Just be careful. And keep me updated."

Max nodded slowly as Valenti's words began to sink in. "You got it. Over and out." As the last words left his mouth, Max clicked his cell phone off with a new sinking feeling. What had Valenti meant by that?

Maybe it was time he found out how things were going on in there. Quietly moving to the window next to the soap factory's ricketty door, Max ducked beneath the window then raised himself slowly to peer through the cracked and grimy glass.

His heart stopped beating and dropped to his stomach with a dull thud as his eyes widened at the sight that greeted him. Kyle Valenti was leaning in to nuzzle Liz's neck. And Liz Parker...was happily letting him...