Author: DocPaul DocPaul Inbox@aol.com
Disclaimer: M&M and all other characters are not mine, but I take them on vacation, because they need the exercise.
Summary: Michael takes Maria on a tour of Meta-Chem after their failed date in Significant Others.
Author's Note: I have said enough. So read at your peril, but do not blame me if you do.....'cause if you don't know by now, you never will.
Michael frowned at Maria. “I'm confused.”
“I'm an idiot 'cause I wanted you all to myself,” Maria smiled ironically, “and that's not right 'cause I've never seen you that happy before, and I love you happy.” Her voice broke as she smiled at him with tenderness in her eyes. “I love you.”
Michael couldn’t grasp that he was being let off the hook. He deserved her anger, and somehow it wasn’t happening. “This is ok?”
Maria nodded and smiled again. “Yes, this is ok.” He was so adorable when he was so confused. “Now you realize you have to take me somewhere to make up for that tuna melt, right?”
“Sure...yeah, of course.” Michael looked over at his friends still congratulating themselves and discreetly watching him and Maria. “Right now? I mean...of course, right now.
Maria looked over at Michael’s friends and back at him. Some things were too hard to fight against. “No, not right now. Go play with your friends.”
Michael stared at her even more confused. “What?”
“No, really. It’s okay.” Maria gestured at the group of bowlers with their ugly blue shirts. “Go celebrate your win with your friends.” Maria stood up and started back into the cafeteria to collect her things.
“Wait.” Michael was stunned for a second and chased after her. “Where are you going?”
“Home.” Maria reached over, kissed him quickly and then headed back inside the glass doors. Michael watched her for a second, unsure what he should do. Then she was back with her jacket and bag, and with another quick kiss and a brush of her fingers on his cheek, she was gone.
“I guess those ‘blue balls’ are yours.” Kyle said sarcastically.
Michael turned to scowl at Kyle. “Shut up, Valenti!”
Kyle looked at the bigger man’s frown and smiled to himself. Yeah, if he were involved with Maria DeLuca he suspected he would be confused most of the time too. Maria, on the surface, was a wacky loyal person with a heart of gold, but that was only what superficial people saw. What was going on inside her was harder to understand. After spending days with her eating lunch and talking, Kyle was beginning to understand that Maria was more than just sad. She was genuinely angry and scared. Kyle was beginning to think that she’d been feeling that way a long time, really ever since Alex's death.
“So did she tell you off? Let you have it with both barrels for treating her like a convenience?”
Michael looked at Kyle sharply. “No. She said it was okay.”
“Damn.” Kyle looked at the door with a flash of worry crossing his face.
“What?” Michael rubbed the back of his neck. Kyle seemed to know and understand something that was eluding him.
Kyle just looked over at Michael and shook his head. “What stories or books have you read that stay with you the most?”
“I liked James Joyce.” Michael admitted.
“Was it ‘cause the character had problems, inner struggles and fights, and the book was not only a physical journey, but a journey of the soul?” Kyle asked quietly.
“Something, like that. The hero was so tired, all he could see was the need to find home and finally rest.” It suddenly hit Michael as strange that he would be standing in a bowling alley dissecting literature with Kyle Valenti, a man that he once considered a no account jock, but was surprisingly becoming a real friend.
“It was the dangers and toil to find himself and his home that was the journey. Right?”
“Yeah, sure, that was its appeal.” Michael was missing the point. “Just spit it out Kyle! What does this have to do with Maria?”
“Maybe I’m suggesting that Maria is more than what she appears to be on the surface. Maybe she's more than a person who always thinks she has be loving and giving, hanging at attention at every word Liz says, or willing to bend to every need you have. I’m suggesting that maybe, just maybe Maria has her own demons and problems inside, that consume and occupy her other than the problems and workings of the people around her.” Kyle paused and tried to find words that would make sense. “Buddha says that a rock that sits is waiting for the journey to begin.”
Michael frowned. What the hell was all this Buddha stuff? “Maria’s a rock, waiting for a journey to begin?” Michael heard his name called by his friends and looked over and acknowledged them. “Look I have to go, so unless you have something else to say?” Michael made a gesture of leaving.
“Okay. What I mean is that if Maria is the rock, then you, Liz, the alien conspiracy, and even Alex are the river. And every day the water rushes by eroding her, wearing her down, until one day she is a loose rock, that tumbles into the water, becoming rounder, smoother, more polished until she becomes a river pebble, and then sand, and then nothing. The reason a good story stays with a person is not because the hero or heroine remains constant and unchanging and the writer writes them consistently, but because they do change. There is resolution and growth.” Kyle looked over as Michael’s friends called him again. “The thing is, are you going to even notice when the change comes? Or are you just going to assume that the rock will always be the rock, and miss the journey all together?”
Michael looked over at his friends calling loudly and obnoxiously. “You’re saying that Maria is changing, that she's on some journey, and I’m missing it. I’m ignoring her?”
“No. I’m saying that she's lonely and sad, and that the one who loves her should take time out of his busy self-absorbed life and find out why. He should wonder what's going on inside her, and if he loved her, he'd worry.” Kyle noticed his group getting up to leave to go find a bar and party to finish off the night. “Just ask yourself, is Maria just that weird, wacky girl that fell in love with an alien, who hung off every word uttered from Liz’s mouth, and that's all you see, or is she more?”
Michael frowned as Kyle moved off remembering the look on Maria’s face, the change from being pissed off, to being forgiving in just a flash. It was almost like she was resigned or simply had given up the fight. “Wait, Kyle!” Kyle turned around and waited. “How did you become so...understanding?”
“Well jeez, Michael, do you think that you and I are the only people in our group that have changed over two years? You were the outsider, who not only chose to stay here, but now loves a girl like Maria, and has friends. I was an empty-headed jock, only worried about the outcome of the next game and whether I was going to get Vicki’s shirt off, and who had to find a way to come to terms with my own mortality. We changed, Liz changed, and Max changed. So why not Maria, or is that not allowed?” Kyle left Michael with even more insight then he could have ever created himself. “Buddha teaches that an unaware man is doomed to walk the same road again and again.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maria quickly cleared the table and pocketed the tip. Sunday was usually a real busy day, but she wasn’t feeling that great. Liz and her father were finally working together without fighting, and the tension between them was lifting.
For that, Maria was thankful. As much as she loved Liz, today was just a day she couldn’t handle listening to the details of their fights in excruciating detail, over and over again. Most the time, Maria didn’t mind being Liz’s sounding board, as she ranted and raved about her parents and Max. But today, today was different. Maria’s head was raging its own dispute in the form of an almost migraine.
“...then my dad said that I was the poem.” Liz looked over at Maria who seemed to be off in another world and not paying attention. “Maria? Are you listening?”
Maria started out of her own thoughts and looked at Liz frowning. “What? I’m sorry Liz. I'm having a hard time concentrating lately. What were you saying?”
Maria stared at Liz and watched her mouth as she talked, trying to find a way to connect the words with the movement. The lights in the diner seemed at once too bright, and suddenly too dark. Maria could feel the prickling of moisture beading on her upper lip and forehead. But it was the sudden rushing of sound in her ears, almost like a hollow tunnel with a freight train passing. Placing the gray dishpan with busted plates on the nearest table, Maria quickly excused herself and rushed through the swinging doors into the breakroom and then the bathroom, slamming the door.
Maria reached for the light switch, but the sudden brightness was enough to make her scream in pain. Turning the light back off she stood in the darkness holding onto the sink, willing the need to pass out to go by. Turning on the water, Maria washed her face and closing her eyes, turned on the light. Slowly she opened her eyes to allow herself to adjust to the increased light. At the same time when she felt she was steadier on her feet, her stomach pitched. Maria barely made it to the toilet bowl before she lost her stomach. Leaning up against the wall, she tried to regain balance on her feet.
Flushing the toilet, and closing the lid, she sat down and leaned her arm on the cold porcelain of the sink with her pounding head resting on her arm. This was going to be okay. It was going to be okay. Maria waited for the weakness to pass before standing and washing her face again. Looking up into the mirror, she saw the pale reflection of a stranger staring back at her with pain lined eyes. I hate you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Max was watching TV when the door opened. It was Maria, and with just one look at her, he was on his feet and at the door.
“Oh God, Maria! You look...”
“If you value your life and any possible future children, the words out of your mouth should be 'ravishing and beautiful'.” Maria said in a joking tone.
Max quickly put a hand under her arm and helped her to the sofa clearing a space for her to sit. “What happened? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I tried to call, but the line was busy.” Max looked at the phone and remembered that he had been speaking to Liz over the last half an hour.
“Sorry, that was me. I was talking to Liz.” Max frowned. “She didn’t mention that you were sick.”
“Doesn’t know. I left straight from the CrashDown to the 12th Street Walk-in Clinic, which I should mention is a zoo on Sundays. I tried to call both her and here, but I guess that explains the busy signals.” Maria leaned back and closed her eyes. “Where’s Michael? I need him to go pick up my medicine.”
“He’s out picking up some groceries, and gassing up the bike. He said he has to work tonight at two, so he was running errands while he’s off from the CrashDown.”
“Oh. I guess I can go pick it up.” Maria started to rise when Max pushed her back down.
“How about I go instead? I think I’m the better choice ‘cause you look like you need to sleep.” Max looked at her, as she seemed to melt down into the sofa. “What’s wrong?”
“Best guess was food poisoning. Ten to one says last night’s tuna melt. I just had the longest most boring lecture from an doctor about the problems of eating fast food with mayo in it.” Maria delicately touched her heaving stomach. “Let’s not go into it, okay?”
“Does your mom know?” Max watched as Maria’s skin took on yet another shade of white and pasty as she nodded.
“I called her from the clinic. She’s at a craft fair in Albuquerque this weekend, but I told her I’d be okay since the doctor assures me I’m over the worst of it. I just need to take the medicine for nausea and get some sleep, clear liquids, yada, yada, yada. Oh, and no more tuna melts for me.”
“Well, I’m off to pick up your medicine. Is it at Harvey’s Pharmacy or the Walgreen’s?” Max grabbed his coat.
“Harvey’s. Tell them to charge it to my mom’s account.” Maria tried to stand up, but quickly sat back down. “You know, I think I’ll just wait right here for you.” Max smiled at her expression and quickly left closing the door behind him and locking it with his powers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Hey Max.” Michael came in putting down a bag.
“Michael...”
“Look, I was wondering if you could make yourself scarce tonight.” Michael started unpacking the bag. “Maria's off in another two hours and I was going to make her dinner here tonight, to sort of make up for the messed up 'date night' last night.” Michael said already forming a list of all the things he needed to do before Maria showed up, including calling her and asking her to come over.
“Maria’s already here.” Max said quietly.
“What?” Michael looked at his clock to see if he screwed up the time. He could have sworn he still had a few hours. “Nah, she works until six tonight.”
“She came over early to look for you. She got sick at work.”
Michael hurried over to his bedroom door before Max could stop him. “Sick?”
“Sick.” Max stood beside Michael as he looked in on a sleeping Maria. She was snuggled down in the bed with the covers all over the place wearing one of his t-shirts. Michael quickly went into the room and covered her up again, and felt her skin. She was still clammy to the touch. Leaving her sleeping he shut the door.
“What’s wrong with her?”
Max looked away from Michael, almost reluctant to tell him. “According to the clinic doctor, food poisoning.”
“The CrashDown?” Michael asked hopefully.
“Tuna melt.”
“Oh damn.” Michael rubbed his hands over his face. Great. Just f-ucking great! First he screws up date night, then according to Buddha Boy he was an unaware man, and now he poisons her. Great. This just kept getting better and better. “I’m surprised that she decided to stay.”
“She wasn’t going to at first. I went to get her medicine and suggested that she sleep in your bed, but she took one look at it and was almost in tears.” Max quietly told Michael, “I changed the sheets and remade the bed and finally convinced her to stay here since her mom’s not home.”
Michael entire jaw tensed and he looked at the closed bedroom door. “Thanks Max.”
Michael left him and walked back to the bedroom, shutting the door behind him. Max watched the door close and then went into the kitchen to put away the groceries.
Michael watched her for a few moments in silence, and then sat on the side of the bed to take off his shoes. Standing up, he unzipped his jeans and removed them. It was still early, only four in the afternoon. He wasn’t scheduled to work until two in the morning, so he might as well nap with Maria.
Getting into the bed, he reached over and pulled her into his arms frowning at the sounds she made in her sleep. She never seemed to be a restful sleeper anymore, but he actually remembered a time when she was. But not since Alex died. Moving his hand up her back and under her hair, he held the back of her neck and settled her close to him. Tuna melt. Damn. He could fix this; he needed to fix this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Maria woke up she was surprised at how warm she felt, how comfortable. After spending the earlier part of the day with a pounding headache and her stomach on the flip, it was nice to just rest. Her stomach still hurt, but more from emptiness than the soreness of heaving. Turning slowly, she was surprised to see Michael sleeping with her.
Lying back down on him, Maria looked up to watch him sleep until she noticed that he was watching her through half closed eyes.
“Hi.”
“You feel better?” Michael asked as he ran his hand up her back.
“Still a little unsettled, but definitely better.” Maria yawned and stretched moving her foot along his leg. “After spending the morning feeling like death was the only option, I’m pleased to report that I’m still alive.”
“Tuna melt?” Michael asked quietly.
“Well either that, or the leftover pasta salad I ate out of the ‘fridge when I got home. The doctor thinks tuna melt, but it really is a toss up.” Maria closed her eyes and rested against him. It seemed so long since they’d been together alone. It was hard since Michael had let Max stay and they had seldom been alone since, not even to test out Michael's cute uniform and other deranged sex things.
Michael moved his hand up her back to tip her head up, but before he could lean down to kiss her and tell her he was sorry about everything, she knocked his hand away and sat up.
“Oh, you don’t want to do that!” Maria said moving to the side of the bed and slowly testing her sea legs.
“Why?” Michael sat up too, and was going to pull her back into the bed. She still looked too pale to be getting up and leaving. He doubted she'd be interested in food, so making her dinner was out.
Maria got up and went over to the bureau searching through a drawer for some clothes to wear. She found one of Michael’s sweaters and a short skirt she had left there. “Well, considering that I was tossing my stomach all morning, and I can barely tolerate the taste in my mouth, then knock yourself out and give me a kiss.”
Michael jumped out of the bed on the other side when Maria turned and climbed back on the bed reaching for him with her mouth pursed for a kiss. Laughing at his expression, she rolled back out of bed and grabbed the clothes.
”Thought so!” Maria headed for the door. “First, I’m going to try to get this taste out of my mouth, and then I’m going to either take a long hot shower or a bath.” She paused with her hand on the doorknob. Looking back at Michael with a frown on her face. “You did pay the gas utility bill right? There is hot water?”
“Umm, was I supposed to pay that?” Michael rubbed a hand along the back of his neck looking sheepish.
Maria just sighed and opened the door. “Okay, bath it is, and you get to run it and warm it up for me.” She waved her hand in the air to indicate the Samantha, alien, Genie thing. Maria turned back and tipped her head to the side. “You are joining me right?” Before he could answer she was through the door talking to Max. Michael grabbed some clean clothes and hurried after her.
Max watched as Maria went into the bathroom shutting the door. Michael stopped at the phone hearing the sound of water running as Maria brushed her teeth. Looking at the time, Michael picked up the phone and called Steve.
Max listened with interest as Michael made all his arrangements.
“Think it will help?” Max asked after Michael hung up the phone.
“Can’t hurt. I want her to feel part of my life there too, instead of it being a competition thing for my time. Steve is going to cover it for me.” Michael could hear Maria’s voice in the bathroom calling his name in that funny singsong tone she used. Smiling he looked over at his friend. “Hey, make yourself something to eat, Max. This might take some time.”
Max watched as Michael entered the bathroom too and firmly shut the door. Sitting back on the sofa he thought about making some food when he heard the deeper tone of Michael’s voice followed by the laughing sound of Maria. Grabbing his jacket, Max decided it was time to hit a fast food place and maybe take a drive. Looking at the closed door and hearing the sounds of water splashing, and the distinct sound of Michael laughing, Max decided it needed to be a real long drive.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“So, why don’t you come here?” Maria asked from where she sat on the bed watching him get dressed for work. That uniform was so cute on him. Michael turned around and saw her crooking a finger at him, so he went to stand beside the bed.
“No funny business. I’ve only got so much time.” Michael told her firmly his eyes narrowing suspiciously as she got up on her knees and started buttoning his shirtfront.
“Big baby!” Maria used his shirtfront to pull him to her for a kiss. “You really need to wear this for me sometime off duty!”
Michael laughed at the mischievous gleam in her eye and pulled her up for a better kiss. “Okay, but only if you wear your CrashDown uniform at the same time.”
Maria liked it when Michael played. He was getting better and better at it all the time. “Well, it’s almost two in the morning, and since you're going to work, I think I’ll head home.”
Maria started to move off the bed, and Michael caught her by her sweater hem. “Whoa, not so fast. I was going to take you somewhere.”
“Where?” Maria looked over at the clock. “Michael you have to be at work in half an hour, there's hardly time to go anywhere.”
“Trust me. I’ve got it covered.” Maria looked at him and then just nodded.
On their way out the door, Michael looked over at Max, to make sure his friend was still online to come pick Maria up later. Max nodded as the door shut behind them. Throwing himself down on the sofa Max wondered if he and Liz would ever be able to spend this much-uninhibited time together, but more importantly Max wondered what Liz thought about taking joint baths.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maria stood looking at the bike as Michael climbed on. “We’re taking the bike?”
Reaching out he pulled her to him and helped her climb on behind him handing her back her helmet. “Yeah, you’re feeling okay, right?”
“I’m fine.” Maria put the helmet on and moved closer to him on the seat wrapping her arms around his middle. They had spent a lot of time this past summer going out into the desert on his bike, but since it was the middle of the night and colder, she was guessing that wherever he was taking her wasn’t very far.
Michael reached behind him and put his hands under her thighs and pulled her even closer to his body where he could feel her flat against his back and her legs were mated to his. Smiling at the gasping sound she made, he took her arms and wrapped them even tighter around his waist.
“Hold on tight.” Maria just nodded, and decided to just follow his lead and enjoy the feel of him in front of her moving with the bike. Maybe she was wrong and he was taking them for a long ride. The longer the ride, the better. She was surprised to see them driving up to Meta-Chem, and Michael only stopping to use his access card to open the gate into employee parking.
“What are we doing here?” Maria asked as she got off the bike and handed him her helmet again.
“I thought that maybe you'd like a tour of where I work.” Michael grabbed his jacket off the bike.
“I would.” Maria looked at the bike. “We could’ve taken the Jetta, so I can get home.”
“I need the bike for after work, but I already arranged for Max to come pick you up in the Chevelle after the tour, plus I thought you might enjoy a ride on the bike.
“I did. I did. I love the way you handle your machine.” Maria laughed when Michael caught the double meaning and pulled her close to his body.
“I’ve heard that before,” he whispered pulling her into the building and backing her up against the wall beside the time clock. He reached around her and took his time card to punch in for the night.
“You have?” Maria tilted her head, curious about where he had heard it before, but Michael leaned down and kissed her before she could ask.
“Yeah, but it didn’t mean anything before you said it.” Michael led her down the hall.
“Why?”
Michael stopped to look at her. “Probably because you’re in a position to know.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Steve, they’re in the building.” Steve looked over at Fly’s monitor seeing Michael and Maria moving down the hall from the time clock.
“Okay, guys, keep tabs on them and close down the monitors as they go, but don’t forget to turn them back on. We don’t want to trip any alarms.” Steve smiled as he watched the young couple walking arm in arm obviously in a heated discussion until Michael stopped and kissed her. Bending the rules seemed the least they could do to help him make things up to Maria after they ruined her date last night.
Steve searched the monitors, but he couldn’t find them. “Who's got them now?”
Monk waved his hand. “Here, Chico. They’re arguing outside a locked lab.” The group moved over to the monitor to watch.
“Why can’t we go inside?” Maria asked.
“I told you, Maria, it’s a locked lab. Our job is to make sure it stays locked. Some of the labs are sterile and top security.” Michael repeated for the thousandth time. Every damn locked door seemed to be a curiosity to Maria.
“It’s a broom closet, isn’t it? Oh God, they’ve got you guarding a broom closet!”
“Maria...”
Fly looked up from his monitor and hit George who was still watching. “Hey Steve they're in stairwell 6F.”
“What are they doing?” Steve moved over to look, as did Monk.
“Arguing again. It looks like Maria wants to go up, but Michael wants to go down.”
Steve laughed at that. Forty-five minutes into the tour and the couple was constantly in a heated discussion. They were an accident waiting to happen. It was a surprise that they weren’t already parents by the way they mixed it up. “So who won?”
The other three men said together. “Maria!”
Steve didn’t doubt that for a minute. “That boy is whipped.”
Fly sat down in a chair and moved it in closer next to Monk. “Hell, if I had a girlfriend that looked like that, and had those legs, she could whip me all she wants!”
“We said ‘whipped’, Chico, not ‘spanked’.” They all snickered at George’s comment.
Monk watched the couple going into the breakroom. “Spanking wouldn’t be so bad. You think Maria spanks Mike?” He just shrugged laughing under his breath when the group of them told him to shut up. “They’re in the breakroom now. Guess Michael is going to buy her something.”
There was sudden silence, when suddenly Monk swore under his breath and sat up straighter. “Holy Sh-it! They’re...they’re...”
The other three rushed to the monitor. All the wows and talking at once ended in a rush of “Aw..." and "No way Man!" when Steve turned off the monitor with a button. The other three looked at him in disbelief.
“Hey, give them some privacy.” Monk, Fly and George nodded a disgruntled agreement, but all four of them kept looking at the shut off monitor. Finally Steve looked over at Monk. “Put a tape in!” All three jumped at once.
Steve picked up the phone to call it in. “Yes, this is Meta-Chem Security. I have a camera out in the west-wing breakroom. It will be down for a while. Yes, code word is 'mandrill'. I’ve got one of my best men working on it, and we should have it restored before the end of the night."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael moved in close behind Maria where she stood in front of the Snapple machine. Moving his arms around her waist he leaned into her nuzzling the side of her neck, pushing her forward a little into the machine. Maria put out a hand to brace herself.
“You gonna to buy me a Snapple?” She asked softly, her voice pushed out of her in almost a groan as he nipped the side of her neck.
Michael first kissed Maria lightly. Then he leaned back a little, a speculative gleam in his eyes. He reached out and ran a finger down a section of Maria's neck, and let his mouth and tongue follow the path of his finger. Maria moved into the touch with a groan, caught off guard by the sudden arousal and the unexpected place.
“What flavor?” Michael asked pausing give her a moment to recover. Then he pushed the golden hair aside to reach an ear. He mouthed it, his tongue darting into the delicate whorls. The warm touch sent a jolt directly to Maria's heart and stomach making her heart race out of control.
"God!" she groaned. "Michael, what are you doing?"
"Just asking you what flavor you want me to buy you..." Michael teased, continuing his ministrations. Every touch was exquisitely deliberate and thought out; each reaction carefully noted. Maria was good at teasing, but it was a rare event when he got to turn the tables on her.
Maria finally caught his hand. "Peach," she swallowed, trying to catch her breath. "Want to tell me what's going on here? Is this the end of the tour?"
Michael's eyes twinkled a little with a combination of love and smugness. He ignored her questions since he figured it was pretty evident what was going on. "You're not very sensitive here," he said, stroking Maria's lower arm as it hung to her side, moving up to her elbow, "This doesn't really do much for you. But here..." his hand moved to her wrist and brought it to his mouth as he kissed the inside nipping at the veins. "Fireworks, huh?"
"Ah, yeah," Maria managed, feeling the mentioned pyrotechnics. Her inner wrist, fingers, inner thigh, small of her back, shoulder blades and breasts had always been her most sensitive areas. Maria was actually surprised that Michael knew about the wrist thing. The breasts and thighs she could understand, but she hadn’t attributed him with that much awareness in regards to her minor trigger points. "You mean, you can tell that? You know that now?"
"Yes." For the first time there was a slightly uncertain look in Michael's eyes, wondering how Maria would react to the revelation that he categorized all her reactions and sounds to his touch, and after months of real intimacy he was coming to know her body better than his own.
Maria turned in his arms and leaned up against the Snapple machine, studying him closely. He was admitting more than usual, more than he ever did. “So that thing that you do...”
“What thing?” Michael was appreciating how nice she looked with her back up against the colorful display of the machine. Moving in closer, slowly, so as not to alert his prey, he distracted her with another question followed by a kiss to her neck.
“You know, that thing. When we’re in bed, after we’ve made love, you move over me, your hands and mouth, and I swear you smell me.” Maria eyes narrowed as he pulled back but avoided really looking at her. She had always attributed this mapping as something to do with his alienness, just like the orgasms and the flashes. It seemed like it was more though, and usually led to more sex because there was something satisfyingly erotic about it. “Imprinting! You were imprinting me. Oh wow! I thought it was some kind of alien kink thing. That’s how you know that I love it when you...”
Michael laid a finger on the full lips, halting Maria before she could come to a full blown understanding of just how deep they went at times. Then he covered her lips with his own, his tongue seeking and gaining entry to her warm mouth- another sensitive area. Maria immediately quieted; enjoying the new physical stimulation even more now that she knew he really did think about her and did work at knowing her. She had missed the clues and he was never big on giving out more of himself then he could spare.
Michael moved heavily into her, circling her waist with his arm to hold her steady while his other hand tangled in her hair to lift her face up to his even more allowing him to deepen the kiss. Peach. She would pick Peach. It was just like her. Rich, flavorful, tangy and sweet, succulent and juicy! All of her, every inch of her skin tasted that way. The soft tender flesh was both firm and silky to his tongue, just like a perfectly ripened peach.
Maria blushed as his hands swept up her sides under her sweater, and he pulled it over her head. They'd just had mind-numbing sex in the bath, and this was a guarantee of more, and she was thinking about where they were? Just how much of a geek was she? "Michael..." she mumbled, thoroughly confused about whether she should tell him to stop or hurry up. "Sorry..."
"Hey," Michael caught her face between his hands, his fingers tracing the high cheekbones. "Don't worry." He kissed the tip of Maria's nose. "You're cute when you get all confused, and you're even cuter when you're excited about something else." Maria blushed even more at the teasing, but accepted it now in good grace.
"Okay, since you seem determined to push my buttons," she said with a grin. "But you just wait. There will be a reckoning at some point, you know."
Michael sighed. “Of that, I have no doubt," he agreed dryly. Then he was kissing Maria deeply, throwing all thoughts of work out the window.
“That’s right! You still have to buy me a Peach Snapple.” Michael laughed and after a few minutes of kissing and him demonstrating his new knowledge of all of Maria's hot spots, Michael shifted them a little; nibbling on the side of her vulnerable neck while his lower body began moving against her smaller body. The shift brought Maria's thigh into contact with Michael's renewed erection.
Maria's nervousness, which had virtually disappeared, returned a bit, but she was determined to continue. Certainly nothing that had occurred so far had been unpleasant. She knew that Michael would take care of her. The same comfort that she had from knowing that Michael knew her body so well now made making out up against a Snapple machine just seem right.
Michael pushed Maria back into the machine, covering her body with his own as he moved his leg between hers, letting her rest on his thigh and loving the way she pushed up hard against him in response.
As if reading her thoughts, Michael raised his head to look at her. This gaze was yet another expression, and it nearly took Maria's breath away. Hot, determined, full of need. Just the look sent a jolt through her body again, making everything inside her wake up and take notice.
"Maria..." Michael's voice was a bit shaky, showing how hard he was trying to keep control. "Need you..." he said with a growl.
The words and the look a day earlier would have sent Maria’s heart racing. To know that she was the object of his desire. But now it was a bit too overwhelming. The butterflies in her stomach weren’t just from excitement, but a bit of fear as well. When did you lose everything in another person, and was that a good or a bad thing?
"Maria, I need the taste of you." Michael added tightly. His face was as hard and concentrating. It was stripped of all softness, filled now only with heated desire and determination. The muscles in his jaw twitched a little, showing the massive internal strain. His breathing was sharp and clearly audible. As Maria watched, there was another flare of fire in the golden brown eyes.
Maria had to swallow before she could speak. "I know," she whispered. She raised a hand up to stroke the plane of Michael's jaw. How was it possible for one person to fuel so much passion in another? "I want it too. I want you too."
The words seemed to assure him as one of his hands captured Maria's hand, and he turned his head to bite warmly at the exposed flesh of her wrist, his eyes remaining fixed on Maria's face. Maria shuddered but didn't break the eye contact, watching as Michael moved up her hand to take a finger in his mouth with long, wet strokes of his tongue. The thought, the memory, of that tongue elsewhere made her groan. Oh God, what the hell was she complaining about the other day again?
Michael finished his bathing of Maria's finger, and then guided another one into his mouth. Anything that involved his mouth he did well. Michael moved his hand down her naked top to unfasten the front clasp of her small, black nylon bra. Leaning his head in to rest on her shoulder he watched his hand as it shaped and palmed her breast in his hand. God he loved black underwear, and in shear nylon, it was heaven. She was so small and tiny, but her body was perfectly proportioned.
Maria moved her head back against the Snapple machine in a groan. It gave Michael an unimpeded access to the tiny buds of Maria's nipples that were brilliantly pert, and were now also treated to warm licks and sucking. Maria whimpered a little as teeth gently captured one nipple. Michael held it carefully, his tongue lapping at the imprisoned flesh. This was erotic torture beyond all thought, but only crossing into exquisite pain. Maria mewed a sound of displeasure as he kissed his way down to her stomach leaving her breast sooner than she would have liked.
Michael finished with that and moved on, leaving Maria whirling in the resulting sensations. Large hands were suddenly everywhere, caressing, massaging, and stroking. Michael's mouth followed everywhere his hands went, drawing out the responses.
Maria caught sight of Michael's face as he looked at her between kisses. Desire and need were in that look, yes; but also love and tenderness that nearly brought tears to her eyes. Michael was doing this for her, not to her. He would never hurt her in any way, or make her feel uncomfortable. He wasn’t perfect, but he was close enough, and cruelty wasn’t one of his faults.
The thought galvanized Maria into trying to turn the tables a bit. Michael might know her spots, but then Michael's entire body was an erogenous zone. Um...a calculating gleam entered Maria's eyes. She could think of a few quick stops that Michael would certainly not object to.
She pushed a little on Michael's shoulders, and he obediently moved a little away, curious. Maria just grinned and started her own explorations. Michael was ticklish on his ribs, not that he had ever once admitted it. She just knew. The tickle fights they had horsing around in his bed always seemed to leave him...inspired and hard. Running her hand up his shirtfront she quickly unbuttoned his shirt pulling it from his slacks. Moving her fingers and nails upward she let them both brush his skin lightly and bite. She added a sucking kiss on his chest above his right nipple with a smarting bite.
She quickly got her answer. Michael groaned loudly as Maria mouthed along his chest. A hand cupped her head, holding it in place as Maria continued. "Little witch," Michael managed to gasp. As Maria’s mouth followed her tickling fingers along his ribs.
"Turn about is fair play," Maria murmured against the vulnerable ribs. Just the vibration of her words sent a shiver through Michael. Her one hand moved down and touched Michael's c-ock straining through his slacks. Opening his belt and unbuttoning him, it leaped readily into her hand, hot and hard again, and obviously eager for attention. Michael reached up to remove the clip on tie and the last few buttons holding his shirt together.
Maria stopped him, her voice huskier than he could remember, and it’s thick warm sound almost sent him over the edge without even really touching her. “Leave it on!”
“Oh, wow!” Michael pushed himself harder into her hand. Deranged sexual things had a lot to recommend them. The job might someday end, but hell, he was keeping the uniform!
Maria paused, uncertain what she wanted to do with him. A gentle encouraging noise from Michael galvanized her. Tentatively at first, experimenting, she began to stroke him loving the feel of him in her hand, the movement of his mouth on her neck and shoulder as she stoked him even harder.
Judging by the sounds that Michael immediately began to make, she was doing an excellent job. “Pick me up.” Michael immediately complied by first moving his hands under her skirt and removing the small scrap of lace. But before he could toss them on the floor with her discarded sweater she nabbed them back and tucked them in the waistband of her skirt. “Oh no you don’t! I can’t afford to lose any more of these.” He just chuckled as he hiked her up into his arms feeling her legs circle his waist. Nailed up against the Snapple machine and with Michael holding her in place, she was able to move a bit more freely and Michael was stretched out along her entire length. She had her own very personal experiences with hand jobs to go by. Ever since Tucson she had become expert at what Michael found especially effective with just the right amount of touch and grip.
It was erotic in a whole new way. Giving pleasure was just as important as receiving it; Maria had known that before. But when the one you were bestowing pleasure upon was part of your soul and heart, it was raised to a whole new level. A feeling of excitement coursed through her as she watched Michael grow even harder in her hands. She was ranking voyeurism at the top of her list of things that turned her on. Watching him under her hands and in her control was...exhilarating.
Michael's hands covered Maria’s and pulled her hands away, twisting her arm so that is was over her head and laying flat against the Snapple machine palm up. Michael quickly tore through a foil pack and placed the unwrapped condom in her hand choking back a groan as her green eyes darkened to an almost indescribable black. Maria moved her hand back down over him and rolled it onto his c-ock adding pressure again. Maria looked at him, biting her puffy lips confused at the very abrupt movement of his hips, and then saw the gleam in the golden brown eyes. Ah, yes. Apparently it was time to escalate things.
The thought made Maria move hotly against him. It had been one thing to see the huge c-ock that Michael was privileged to call his own, and to touch it with her hand, but knowing where it was going to be very soon, was quite another. There was a surge of hot desire in her stomach at the prospect. It was almost shameful to admit that being joined to him sexually gave her a rush because the connection they made brought him inside her, where no amount of silence or lack of time could allow him to hide from her. It was almost the only time she felt that he was truly and completely hers and all her insecurities were lost in the dust under the heat.
"Maria," Michael asked softly. Maria realized that she had dropped her gaze back down and away from his eyes, and quickly looked back at him. He smiled a little, as if trying to read Maria's very busy mind. Kyle was right. She had a look that he wasn’t sure he could understand, and it was beginning to bother him. It was times like this when she was with him a hundred percent that he felt everything was okay, but then in a flash; she was somewhere else, like a hidden place that she went to protect herself. "I won't hurt you," Michael said. "Please, don't be afraid of me." He had no clue why he felt the need to reassure her, to comfort her.
Maria nodded. "I'm not afraid of you," she answered. She took a deep breath. "When we...you know...I think I need to be able to see you." Michael just nodded. He knew they connected on different levels, but lately she seemed to need more. "I have to see you," Maria repeated in earnest. It was suddenly an important issue to her. Michael gave her another look, and then nodded.
"Okay," Michael agreed with a kiss, and made the connection feeling her inside his body, letting her in again. He could feel the two of them almost coalescing and he knew that this was perhaps the wrong place to do this, because when the climax hit it was going to feel like their bodies had exploded into millions of molecules and mated at an entirely different level. For several moments Michael continued the reassuring movement of his hands on her body. He seemed about to speak, then abruptly clammed up again. Maria sensed now that the next move had to be hers.
She cupped Michael's face between her hands, making him look at her. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she nodded. Communicating again that it was all right to continue. "Make love to me." she invited, leaving no doubt. Maybe it was because they were joined on that different level that part of her seemed to understand he was sensing a difference in her, a restlessness, and it was slowly hitting him at a conscious level, making him worry.
The look in Michael's eyes spoke volumes of his love. He leaned forward and kissed his wonderful, brave utterly pain in the ass girlfriend, and best friend.
Maria surprised Michael by taking him back in hand, and moving him more into her palm, she proceeded to reach down handling him to the point of over stimulation. Michael nearly went through the roof at that incentive.
“Dammit, Maria! This is not how I want this to end.” Maria just laughed and leaned into his shoulder and bit him through the fabric of his shirt.
“Then you better get to work!” Growling a little, he removed her hand from him. If Maria touched him again, he was sure that he would lose it. And he wanted to come in her body not her hand.
“When did you get so impatient?”
“Michael!” Maria groaned her eyes closing to thin slits as she watched him.
Quickly, he molded himself to her, with one of his hands moving around her leg fitting under her knee where it bent around his waist holding him tight. He loved the soft skin at the back of her knees. It was one of his favorite places to touch. He pushed against her nudging her, and Maria understood, bending her knees a little, letting Michael snuggle even closer into her. Maria closed her eyes, taking a deep calming breath as Michael wrapped his free arm around her. He was pushing her too hard, and if he kept it up he was going to finish it alone because she was going to be already gone.
She felt the gentle pressure as he pressed against her steadily, seeking entry, and then slid in with ease. She was still loose from before and her legs were already trembling.
"Mmmmm..." Maria purred. It felt even more wonderful than the touches to the outside. She liked him inside. When Michael began moving in and out, it added another layer of delight. He was taking his time, refusing to let her rush him. He carefully worked her, keeping things at an even pace, only moving in so much, holding back in reserve. Maria was so relaxed. She was readily accepting him, whispering come-ons in his ear, taunting him. Time to up the stakes.
"Double-time," Michael decided. He pushed her harder, stretching her even more, making her gasp as her nails pushed into his shoulders, making him cuss under his breath at the stinging pain. Oh yeah, do that again!
Maria concentrated on relaxing her muscles, and that eased the tightness. They had played this game of one-upsmanship before. Michael ventured deeper and found the little nub he was seeking. Finding the perfect angle to rub against her with just the right amount of pressure to make her entire body jump in his arms.
"Michaellllllll!" Maria screamed in surprise at the jolt of pure fire that shot through her. "Wh-what, how--?" He was killing her slowly with this fast and then slow motion, dragging it out to an almost painful violent explosion.
"Again?" Michael asked, pressing on the nub again. God, it was incredible to watch Maria! Earlier, Michael had come simply due to having her move over him in the warm water, thrashing wildly between her legs with her seated on him. It raised all sorts of erotic, sensual fantasies in his mind that he wanted now to see in real life; fantasies that featured Maria in all sorts of positions, coming again and again, driving him with her. She made the two years of foreplay well worth the wait.
He cut off those thoughts with a groan. Keep thinking about that, and he would come before he could get her off. And now that he was home inside Maria's passage, mapping the territory, his c-ock definitely wanted to get in on the action.
Maria panted a little. "Do it again!" she demanded. “Dammit, I hate it when you tease.”
Michael kissed her neck. "Let me drive this time. It will feel even better," he promised.
"God help me," Maria muttered with mock indignation. "I might not survive." Michael chuckled with her, then eased more of him inside her.
It was tight, no question. Michael moaned and rested his head on her shoulder. "Squeeze me," he directly softly. Maria responded immediately with a somewhat shaky grip using her inner thighs and muscles.
"Oh wow!" Michael said, keeping his body absolutely still. If he moved, it would be over. He would be over. It was amazing the amount of internal control she had over her muscles. Yoga. Who would have thought?
After a minute, Michael could feel Maria's internal muscles starting to relax. The pressure passed as Maria unclenched, and he moved his hips back a tiny fraction, testing. Michael slowly moved back in and out finding his target again.
"Ohhh!" Maria jerked now. It was so intense; it was almost painful. But not quite. A moment to let her recover and Michael pressed once more. He worked slowly in and out, pumping Maria gently, trying to keep her with him as long as possible, sharing the sensation.
After several minutes, Michael decided that Maria was as ready as she ever was going to be. She was constantly squirming now, goading Michael to move quicker. He withdrew partially, and cut off the wail of protest from Maria with a kiss pulling her tongue hotly into his mouth.
"Ready to finish this?" He could feel his own legs feeling the strain of holding them both up for so long.
Maria didn't trust herself to speak; she just nodded. She willingly spread her legs even more to pull him in even tighter, letting Michael move between them. She was panting again, small tremors coursing through her as she watched him.
Michael had to pause when he looked at Maria. There was such love and trust in those green eyes that it was hard to breathe for a minute. He bent down and kissed her thoroughly again even as he flexed his knees to give himself a firm thrust into her.
"Love you..." he whispered against the mass of blond hair hardly loud enough for her to hear. His fingers threaded through Maria's one hand at his hip and guided their joined hands to his shoulders, directing Maria to hold him there. Maria's hands skittered lovingly and a bit nervously over Michael's shoulders as Michael grasped her hips to hold her.
Maria closed her eyes as Michael pressed against her. The pressure just steadily increased as she stretched, offering a little resistance, opening wider and then giving way under the cautious probing. Michael entered her in a hard fast move pushing the breath from her lungs from the impact. It hurt, but in a real good way.
Maria hissed as the head of Michael's c-ock moved into her with no slowing or taking precaution, just demanding more of her. Previously relaxed muscles suddenly tensed in surprise around the intruder, gripping him hard as Maria moved against him wanting even more. Michael immediately stilled his hips, not moving. After a beat, Maria managed to relax again, letting her breath out in a slow exhale. She could feel him teetering on the edge trying to pull back to make it last longer.
Michael took the cue to move just a fraction again. It started a pattern of fast long moves, not giving Maria time to adjust. It took a few long moments, and then he was completely inside, his groin directly pressed against Maria's. Maria's hands held their death grip on Michael's shoulders as she adjusted to him begging him to not stop.
Wow!
Later, Michael would often reflect that his thoughts at that moment when they were joined should have been more...profound, or something; at least poetic. But only one syllable came to mind.
Wow.
It was still slightly uncomfortable being nailed up against a Snapple machine, but also incredible. The c-ock now buried inside her twitched a bit, and Maria marveled at the sensation, thrilled that she could actually feel that. Intrigued, she deliberately tightened her internal muscles, wondering what would happen, how much he could take.
Oh, yeah. Another wow.
"Maria? Maria!" Maria opened her eyes, not having realized that they had even shut, to look at Michael. Eyes blazing, jaw clenched, Michael looked like he was ready to have a stroke - or an incredible orgasm.
Maria savored her power. She knew exactly what this was about. She tightened her passage again, and this time watched as it dragged a groan out of Michael. "Yeah?" she asked innocently, riding the wave of pleasure herself.
"Keep doing that-" Michael had to pause for breath. "-and this will be over pretty damn soon."
"I thought that was the idea." Maria moved to rest on his heaving shoulder whispering huskily into his ear. “Don’t you need to work tonight?”
Michael groaned, and then began to move; realizing that it was probably the only way to quiet his far too talkative girlfriend. Little demon wanted to play, did she? He'd show her play.
The undulations of Michael's hips immediately quieted Maria. 'Wow' went out the window and was replaced with something near a primal scream. There was still some faint discomfort from the stretching, but the knowledge that it was Michael who was stretching her that way made it far too wonderful to regret or complain about. The only complaint would be when it was over. How could it ever be enough? This was a feeling close to addiction.
Maria's fingers dug into Michael's shoulders as she felt the tremors begin inside her. She was aware of every cell in her body, shaking at the intensity as she began to break apart. Then Michael shifted his weight to change his angle, and began to massage her clit again.
It was a thousand times more intense than the workout from Michael's fingers. Maria felt certain that her whole body was about to levitate off of his c-ock from the jolts. Even her hair felt like it was vibrating.
Michael was totally zoning on her, and he didn't care one bit. His entire world was now centered on Maria and the amazing feelings that this act was producing. His sense of self was cast out and there was nothing in the word save the two of them. He could nearly see the moment their auras combined in the air around them. Then Maria was practically pounding her fists against Michael's chest, trying desperately to find release in any way possible. It snapped Michael back out of his zone. He was so busy feeling the movement he had left her hanging on the very edge.
"Come for me, honey," he hissed tightly, making a very slow and deliberate thrust that rubbed Maria's clitoris firmly. "Love you so much..." Michael whispered. He suspected he didn’t say the words often enough or loud enough for Maria. But vocalizing his emotions had never been that easy. If you admitted a weakness or fault, people found ways to use it to take advantage of you, and sometimes he felt his loving Maria was a fault. It left him vulnerable, on edge and uncertain.
Maria's own orgasm clicked at that moment and her eyes flew open staring straight into his eyes. She could see Michael the way only a lover could; see every inch and cell. And she could feel Michael inside her to the nth degree. She let go of the tenuous control she had.
She screamed his name as she came.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, she was aware of Michael's own shouts, the frantic out of control thrusts from Michael's hips. But she didn't have time to savor it.
She collapsed against him in a boneless heap. And Michael breathing hard, reached his hand past her and used his powers to activate the Snapple machine. Just before he let them both collapse in a heap on the floor, he heard a Snapple drop. Maria was just thankful she landed on top. Looking over at the opening of the machine, she weakly reached in and pulled out a Snapple. Peach.
“Oh God, you’re good!” Michael just laughed against her breast too wasted to move.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“I’ve got them!” Fly said. “They just left the breakroom and are heading back to the time clock.”
Steve nodded and pushed the eject button on the tape. Dialing the number to alert Michael’s friend that he could come pick up Maria, Steve looked down at the amount of used tape. Damn. Impressive!
“Get that monitor back on while I call the Sheriff’s office to inform them the camera has been fixed.” Steve just sighed as he watched his crew hulking over the monitor watching Michael and Maria saying goodbye. Damn peeping Toms were hogging all the space.
When Michael got back into the control room he noticed how quiet the crew was. “Hey.”
Steve looked up and smiled trying to keep the twinkle out his eyes as his dimples deepened. “So did Maria get off...okay?” The rest of the guys snorted softly under their breaths at the pause in the words.
Michael’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Yeah...Um, thanks for the help tonight and all.”
George just smiled. “Hey, no problem Chico, it was the least we could do after you ruined your date for the bowling league.” Monk looked over at Fly and winked. “So what part of the tour do ya think Maria liked the most?”
And before Michael could say anything, Fly said under his breath. “My bet is on the breakroom.” The rest of the guys started guffawing as Steve came up next to Michael and whispered not so quietly in his ear, “Hey, Mike. Next time try the bathroom ‘cause they don’t have cameras.” The guys fell over laughing as it hit Michael what it was they were saying. Damn!
“You guys didn’t...”
Steve just hit him on the back and went to sit back down at his chair. “Of course not, man! We’re your pals.” All the guys looked at each other as Steve reached on his desktop. Whistling at Michael, Steve tossed him the VCR tape.
“But we made you a tape!”
Looking at the black casing in his hand, Michael ignored his laughing friends as he pushed the tape into his monitor and hit Play. Blocking the screen from prying eyes, Michael watched miniaturized versions of himself and Maria...Wow! Michael moved his head to the side to get a better view, feeling movement behind him and a heat flush up his neck. He ejected the tape and stuck it in his jacket pocket. Turning quickly, he noticed his friends discreetly avoiding his eyes and innocently whistling under their breaths. Yeah. Right.
Turning in his seat, Michael tried to get some work done, but his mind kept wandering back to the tape and Maria. Knowing how much she was into watching him, he smiled to himself and started planning an evening with Maria and the VCR.
TBC in ITB~S3: Secrets and Lies