Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters do not belong to me, but this fanfiction plot is mine. This  had been written purely for entertainment purposes only. No infringement had been intended and no profit had been made out of the story.

ALL CHAPTERS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

COMPLETE

Back at Max’s apartment, Alec and Max were having a conversation about Ben.

“I killed him,” Max said, not seeing the surprised look on Alec's face as she tried to hold back her tears.

“He asked me to, so I did” Max said, her voice broke slightly and her eyes filled with tears. “And then I ran. I saved myself. And I just left his body there for them to take away.”

Tears ran down Max's cheeks. Unsure what to do in the face of a sobbing Max, Alec tentatively put an arm around her shoulders and kissed the top of her hair tenderly.

“Max, I'm sorry,” Alec whispered. He knew how hard it could be to be forced to kill someone you cared about. He was not able to do it himself. He was thinking of Rachel, and of Max, as he remembered the time he had the micro-explosive lodged in his brain-stem.

He was also sorry he brought the topic up. Sorry he made her re-live her pain of losing Ben. He squeezed her shoulders, “It’s late, and you should get some rest,”

Max nodded, taking a deep breath to calm herself. She looked at Alec. “You shouldn’t go back to your place. They might look for you there. Stay here tonight,”

Alec rubbed the back of head, hesitating, not wanting to impose on her more than he already had done, considering the state she was in. “You sure? I could crash at Joshua’s.”

“Its okay, Alec. Like you said, it’s late. You could take the couch.”

“Okay,” Alec replied, moving towards the couch. Max gave him a small smile and went back to her room.

~~~~~

It was in the middle of the night when Alec was woken up by the sounds of strangled sobs coming from Max’s room. He slid off the couch and tip-toed quietly to the room, wanting to check if she was alright. He stopped beside her bed, seeing her tear stained face and the restless tossing of her body.  He reached out a hand to gently soothe her, careful not wake her.

Max’s eyes opened at his touch. He froze, tensing himself in readiness of some form of attack. She started at him with luminous eyes, wet from her tears.

“Hold me please,” she said in a small voice, shaking from emotion.

A look of surprise crossed his face then he nodded slowly, climbing into her bed and putting his arms around her tenderly.

With Alec’s arms securely around her reminding her of the comfort she had back in Manticore with her siblings, Max soon fell asleep.

~~~~~

Alec had expected to be battered into a pulp when Max woke up to find him in her bed the next morning, never mind it was her who invited him in, he thought with a small amount of amusement. But he was pleasantly surprised to find her in a good mood. All that talking must have done her some good, he thought.

“You better lay low until we get this whole mistaken-identity thing sorted out” she said, hugging her arms around her body to ward off the morning chill as she walked him out of her apartment.

Alec nodded. “Yeah, maybe I'll crash at Joshua's. Think he'll mind?”

Max grinned. “Are you kidding? He'll love it”

Alec turned to face Max, “Well, thanks for saving my butt, again. Must be hard, huh? Having me around? Some guy with Ben's face, making you think about things you'd rather forget?” he felt a lump forming in his throat, regret in his eyes for just being who he was.

“Yeah. That's probably why I'm such a bitch to you sometimes. Sorry… I really don’t mean it, sometimes,” Max said, looking down sheepishly. Deep down, she knew that she was a bit harsh on Alec. Even OC thought that she should let up on him. She couldn’t imagine that of all people, she had actually confided in Alec. Probably because he understands what its like, and he doesn’t judge, she thought. She felt better now that she got the entire incident off her chest, she was glad Alec was there to listen.

“Maybe,” Alec said with a smile, moving closer to Max and putting his arms around her, he said, “Or, you know, maybe it's 'cause I'm such a pain in the ass sometimes…”

Max smiled as Alec detached his arms from her shoulders, and said, “Be careful”

“Always,” he replied as he cupped her face in his hands and gave her a long kiss on her forehead, “Thanks, Max”

~~~

Across the road, Logan was standing partially hidden by his car. He clenched his hands into fists as Alec put his arms around Max. What does he think he’s doing?

Alec turned his back to him, facing Max.

Then Logan heart practically stopped as he saw Alec leaning down to kiss Max. Jealously flared up inside him, flashing across his eyes.

~~~

Later that day, Max visited Joshua. Alec had forced him to make Annie leave for his own protection, but he had taken it really hard, and now  Max was desperately trying to console him. In his distracted state, Joshua had absent mindedly started fiddling with the pendant hanging around his neck, drawing Max's attention to it for the first time. As the pendant fell to his chest, Max saw the Familiar’s caduceus symbol on it.

Max grabbed the pendant in her hand, “Joshua, where did you get this?”

“Father gave it to me,” he answered.

Max removed her glove from her hand and compared the pendant with the matching symbol on her palm she got from the fight with the familiars. 'I need to tell Logan', she thought reluctantly. ‘But I don’t want to see him. I don’t want to risk infecting him again.'

~~~

Logan's apartment was in darkness as Max went over to the whiteboard and hung the pendant on it. She drew a circle around the pendant and added arrows from ‘Sandeman’ to ‘Breeding Cult’. She stood staring at it for a moment before turning to sneak back out. Then the lights suddenly came on.

“Hi there!” Logan greeted Max with fake joviality.

“The lights were out. I didn't know you were home,” Max said lamely. She looked closer at Logan. 'Has he been drinking?' she wondered, detecting the smell of alcohol in the air.

“'Cause if you did, you wouldn't have come, huh?” Logan smirked.

Max ignored his comment, “I found this around Joshua's neck. He said Father gave it to him. It's the same symbol the breeding cult uses.”

“So Sandeman is one of White's cult loonies, huh? Woo-hoo,” Logan said drunkenly while pouring another drink.

“Logan, there's a connection between the breeding cult and Manticore,” Max said, her patience running thin. She did not peg Logan as the drinking type, but evidently he was.

“Maybe I oughta do an Eyes Only hack, huh? I mean, this is a big news day. In case you hadn't noticed, I tried paging you. Wanted to talk to you, but, uh...guess you were busy,” Logan said sarcastically, walking towards her.

Seeing that she could not get through to him when he was in this state, Max tried to leave. Logan blocked her exit, while she tried to get pass him without touching him. Getting irritated, she snapped, “Cut it out.”

“I could keep you here all night. Or at least till I drop dead” Logan laughed maniacally.

“I've said everything I needed to say.”

“I don't think so. I think there's something else. Or is it someone else?”

Confused now, Max frowned. “What?”

Logan looked into her eyes. “I needed to talk to you, so I came by your apartment...and I saw him leaving…I mean, if I've got it wrong, just say so,” he stammered, looking suddenly unsure of himself.

Max looked at him silently. Alec, she thought. He saw Alec leaving. What should she say to Logan? The truth, or something else?

“Tell me it's not true,” Logan pleaded.

She inhaled deeply. With an anguished look in her eyes, Max whispered, “I can't… It's over between us.”

Logan’s face reddened. “So it’s true then? You left me for that screw-up? Tell me. I want to hear you say it” Logan spat angrily.

Max could not make herself say the words.

“I don’t believe you,” Logan said, snorting, “You just want an excuse to drive me away. No, I don’t believe it.”

Max shoulders hunched in defeat. She really did not need this conversation. She started walking towards the door again, and this time Logan made no move to stop her. At the door, she turned, “Whatever you have to tell yourself, Logan. We're done. Get used to it.” She paused, hand pushing the door open. “And for the record, Alec is not a screw-up.”

Logan stared at the door swinging shut behind Max's retreating back.

~~~

A couple of nights later at Crash, Max, OC and Sketchy was sitting at a table with beers in their hands, observing the antics of yet another girl at the bar who was throwing herself at Alec. A blonde this time.

“I cannot believe his luck with chicks. I mean, how does he do it? I tried every one of his tips, but still nothing” Sketchy said despondently to OC and Max, who laughed at the expression on his face.

“You fool, have you seen yourself in the mirror? Max’s boy over there is hot. He doesn’t have to do anything. They offer themselves up to him,” OC said, her afro curls bobbing up and down as she shook her head at Sketchy’s ignorance.

“He’s not my boy,” Max replied in reflex. Hmm, what OC said was true. It was the girls who keep throwing themselves at him. He just appeared to be such a slut because he always humoured them. As if its such a sacrifice for him, Max snorted. He was probably more than happy to please them all.

“Hey, boo, Logan’s here. Think he’s looking for you,” OC nudged Max, indicating the door.

Max looked up and caught Logan’s eyes. He smiled. She groaned, Oh no, not again. Really not up to another session of relationship talk, she thought sourly. Max stared fixedly into her beer, wishing herself anywhere but there at Crash.

Logan reached their table. “Could I talk to you for a minute?” he said, looking at Max, then pointedly OC and Sketchy. Max was disgusted, she could smell the alcohol on his breath. Is he drunk again?

Getting the hint, OC and Sketchy got up and headed towards the pool table. OC gave Logan a warning look as she brushed past him. He ignored her.

“What do you want, Logan?” Max asked impatiently.

Logan looked around them, ignoring her question, “So where’s your boy-friend?” He eyes locked on Alec with the Blonde. He raised his eyebrows, and smirked at Max. “I wouldn’t have said you were the sharing type, Max. Tsk…tsk… Or is it over already?”

“It’s none of your business how I run my relationship, Logan,” Max said, rapidly getting annoyed. She was not sure if she was more annoyed with Logan or with the fact that Alec was ruining her cover story.

“Ah, Max… You can’t expect him to be serious. You can’t keep him on a leash. He is an animal,” Logan said condescendingly.

Max could feel her hackles rising. “I can’t believe you'd actually said that. But comparing us to animals? Haven’t you heard? We ARE part animal. And I don’t want to keep him on a leash. I don’t have to. We have an understanding,” Max said.

“You can’t lie to me, Max. I know there’s nothing going on between you,” Logan taunted her.

“What do I have to do to convince you, huh?” Max said in exasperation, her temper flaring. She thought it going to be hard to break off because of her feelings for him. She did not anticipate that it was going to be hard because of his utter refusal to let go, even when she had. Her irritation with the entire situation was actually making it easier for her. She got up suddenly; flashing a glare at Logan’s startled expression.

Max stalked over to the bar.

Alec noticed her approach purposefully towards him out of the corner of his eyes. Uh-oh, what did I do now? he thought, fear rising slightly. Keeping a wary eye on Max, he smiled to the blonde in front of him, “Look, sweetheart, you might want to go to the washroom. It’s cute, but there’s a little smudge on your face,”

The girl gasped, hand raised to her cheeks, and turned to rush to the washroom.

Phew, just in time, he thought as Max reached his side. He felt her grab the back of his neck. Huh?

“Play-along” she hissed at him. “Or I’ll kick your ass so hard you won’t be able to sit for a week. Get it?”

“Wh…” his eyes grew larger as she pulled his head down and captured his lips in hers.

What the hell?!

Alec stilled for a moment before his reflex kicked in. He moved his lips on hers tentatively. Then, growing bolder, his tongue reached out to caress hers. Soft and sweet. He closed his eyes and groaned as he felt blood rush from his head to his groin. He heard Max moan as he deepened the kiss, sucking her tongue and lips hungrily. His brought his hands up to weave his fingers in her hair, keeping her exactly where he wanted her to be.

The sudden wolf-whistle and cheers startled Alec into awareness. He lifted his lips reluctantly from Max and felt the fog slowly clearing his head. Then it hit him. Shit! What happened? This is MAX for goodness’s sake! I am so screwed!  He looked down at her, his hands still in her hair, trying to gauge her reaction.

He saw Max as she came back to reality and stiffened in his arms. She blushed for a moment, then glared up defiantly at him. “Don’t you dare say a word! I said play-along!” she hissed, throwing a furtive glance across the room at Logan.

Logan! “Max, what are you doing? What are WE doing? Logan saw that!” Alec said desperately, looking at her with a frown of confusion. Then it dawned. He began to feel really uncomfortable with the suspicious thought in his head.

“Okay, Max, tell me now. What’s with Logan?” he demanded, keeping his voice low. To all appearances, they were having a lover’s conversation, her arms around his neck, his hands still caressing her head.

Max looked down. “I guess you're going to find out sooner or later. I told Logan you and I were together.”

Alec looked dismayed. “What? Are you kidding?”
 

“This virus thing isn't going anywhere, and I can't afford any more accidents,” she explained uncomfortably.
 

“Why do you have to drag me into it?” Alec asked, annoyed now.
 

“I had to push him away.”
 

He tensed. “Yeah, so blame Alec, 'cause he's just the kind of jerk that'd steal another guy's girl… Max, whatever's going on with you and Logan has nothing to do with me, okay? I'm not going to be the bad guy,” Alec said, loosening his grip on her head.

Max grabbed his hands, a pleading look in her eyes. “Please, Alec… Don’t do this. Just help me this once,”

He had a soft spot for Max, and he knew it. But this is all so wrong! Alec sighed. He nodded, looking in Logan’s direction. Logan did not look happy at ball. Surprise. Surprise. Alec also noticed OC and Sketchy looking at them with slack jaws. He groaned inwardly.

Logan was fuming. He could not believe that Max actually left him for that screw-up loser of a transgenic. Not wanting so see anymore love-play between Max and Alec, he stood up and stormed out of Crash.

~~~

Back at Joshua’s, Alec was lying down on the couch, staring up at the cracked plaster on the ceiling, lost in his thoughts.

Flashback

At Max’s cell in Manticore;

“We've been paired off. I'm your breeding partner” he had actually looked forward to it when he saw how hot she was.

At the lab tech’s motel room;

“I owe you, Max. I know I screwed things…”

“Shut up! And listen, 'cause I'm only saying this once. That guy was the last chance for me and Logan. He's gone, and it's your fault. Don't think I'm ever getting over that” He never felt he could screw things up that much. He saw the hopelessness in her eyes and thought that he may be better off dead.

At the museum, stealing the baseball;

“Read my lips, pretty boy. Get a life, get a job, and stop sticking your nose into mine. Don't make me kick your ass!”

“You know, this whole tough-chick act thing is really unbecoming. ‘I'm gonna bounce you on your ass. I'm gonna smack your bitch head.’ It's so unfeminine” he grinned, actually finding her treatment of him rather refreshing after having a constant stream of girls simpering and throwing themselves at him.

His conversation with Logan in the sewers;

“It's just 'cause she's hot, you know” he had told Logan. “You honestly think we'd be down here in this mouldy dump looking for God-knows-what if she were ugly?” Thinking that Logan had to be blind if he could not see that. Now Alec was more than capable of appreciating a unique beauty like Max.

Outside the Blowfish Tavern;

“That's okay, there's a line around back. Girls show up, and management picks the good ones” he tried really hard to keep a straight face while saying that to a pissed off Max.

“No way!” she had protested, the expression on her face priceless.

“Come on, Max, don't sell yourself short. I mean, you've got a decent shot,” more than decent, he had thought at that time. The management would PAY her to go in.

In a closet;

“Yeah, yeah. Tell me…tell me that he's worth all this trouble, Max. I mean, tell me how he...how he rocks your world. Something” he had asked, not really wanting to hear the answer. But Max remained silent. “Maxie? Hey. You and Logan have done it, right? I mean, before the whole virus thing, you knew each other for like, what, a year? Max?” He was incredulous at the thought that they had a YEAR and did NOTHING. If he was in Logan’s shoes…

At her apartment;

“Hold me please.” He could remember circling her soft body with his arms as she fell asleep. And the peace he felt falling asleep breathing in her scent, burying his face in her neck.

At Crash

His shock when had she captured his lips in a kiss. Her soft lips caressing his, driving him to distraction. Making him want more. Hoping for more.

End Flashback

Alec sat up, running his hands through his hair helplessly, groaning as he realised his predicament. He was attracted to Max? Didn’t see that coming did you, Alec? Great… just great! What do I do now?

I need to tell her… I need to tell her I cannot ‘play-along’. I can’t do this to myself…It’s not fair to either of us.

~~~

The next morning at Jampony, Normal was hollering as usual. “Bip, bip, bip! Get a move on, you reprobates!”

He caught OC’s eyes. “Hey, where’s Missy-Miss?”

OC rolled her eyes. “My boo have some female problem that you don’t know nothing about. She won’t be it in today.”

Alec heard OC’s as he entered Jampony, late as usual. But at least this time he had someone to blame – Max. Max and her uncharacteristic behaviour yesterday.

“Why can’t you all be like Golden Boy here, huh? Now him – he’s someone with potential. Not like you lot of losers,” Normal complained, pushing his spectacles up his nose.

“Hey, buddy! What’s up,” Alec clasped Normal’s hand.

“Missy-Miss didn’t turn up again,” Normal grumbled, shaking his head and walking away.

OC walked up o Alec, pinning him with her no-nonsense stare. “What’s up with you and my boo?”

Alec shrugged. “Who knows?”

“You better not let Original Cindy know that you’re playing her boo. What with the kiss and all. Or I’ll smack your ass!”

“Listen, OC. I have no idea what’s going on in that head of hers, alright. And I didn’t do anything,” Alec said, irritated. Why is it he always get blamed for everything that goes sideways, he wondered.

OC looked at him searchingly with knowing eyes, and said “Whatever. You better treat her right, you hear me?”

Alec turned his eyes heavenwards… I give up.

~~~

Max closed her eyes as he trailed kisses from her cheek to her ears, nipping at her smooth skin along the way. He kissed his way across her face, bypassing her lips to the other ear.

“Kiss me…” Max pleaded, offering her lips to him. He chuckled, and shook his head.

“Patience…” he said, his lips moving over her pulse point, sliding his hands up her top over her ribs.

Max’s breath hitched in her throat. Her hands followed his lead. She pressed her palm against his hard pectorals, sighing in appreciation as she felt the warm, hard muscles. His groan of pleasure aroused her even more.

“Max… I want you” he rasped against her throat, grabbing her hand and rubbing his rough thumb over her wrist. It was incredibly erotic, and they were still fully dressed.

“Alec…”

*thump-thump-thump*

“Alec…?” Max looked at him in confusion. Why was she making out with Alec?

Then suddenly, Max bolted upright in her bed, gasping for breath. Realisation dawned in her eyes.

“Heat dreams.." she groaned desperately. She thought about all the push-ups and the cold showers she was going to need to have for the rest of the day. She could not even turn up to work. With the number of males in Jampony, it was not advisable anyway.

*THUMP-THUMP-THUMP*

Damn, did OC forget her keys? Max thought. She jumped out of her bed and padded across to the door, reaching out a hand to the knob.

“OC… What would you have done if I am out, huh?” Max said with a grin, opening the door.

Alec stood at the door, looking at her, entranced. There was this warm, sultry scent coming from her. He breathed in and felt himself grew warm. His mind clouded over.

“Hi, Max,” Alec greeted her softly, not realising he sounded predatory.

Uh-oh, this not good, she thought briefly. She could see the hungry expression in his eyes. Then, Hmm… Alec does look kinda tasty… She let her eyes travel up and down his body, lingering longer on strategic points of interest. She could feel herself flush with desire. She sniffed the air, smelling testosterone, and said seductively, “Alec… Wanna come in?” His scent was making her secrete more pheromones.

Alec gulped, his eyes glazing over as his senses were assaulted by more of her pheromones. He could feel his skin tingling, and his hands itching to grab her. He forcibly held them back from reaching out to her. Too late, he realised that she was in heat.

He stepped in, locking the door behind him while keeping his eyes locked on Max. She was wearing a tiny tank top and shorts. He could see the desire in her eyes. He reached out a hand to her as he stalked towards her.

Max saw him approach and took a step towards him. In a flash of momentary sanity, she thought, “Max, what do you think you are doing? This is ALEC, for goodness’s sake. He is your friend! The perpetual pain in your ass!” she stopped. Then another voice, “No…no…no… Alec is your boy. He’s hot. He’s strong. And he’s HERE. Don’t be stupid, girl. You heard me, Max! Scratch your itch!” She took another step and launched herself at him, wrapping her legs around his hips.

Alec grinned as Max latched to him, his hands finding their way to her rounded ass. His eyes sought hers as he caught her lips in a hungry kiss. She started rubbing herself on him, moaning at the friction it caused between them. He hardened painfully.

It was his turn to groan. “Max…” He moved one hand up her arm to her shoulders, rubbing her soft, smooth skin. He caught the strap of her tank top in his fingers, yanking it down slowly to expose her breast. She shuddered when his fingers brushed against her sensitive skin. His hand moved down to cup her swollen breast. Max gasped, arching against his hand insistently. He could feel her erect nipple pressing against his palm as he started kneading her breast. He glanced down as he rubbed her nipple with the pad of his thumb. He whispered to her “You are beautiful, you know that?” gazing into her eyes, pupils dilated with arousal.

He moved to the table, laying her onto it, as he removed her other strap. She whimpered as he exposed both her swollen breasts to his gaze. Touching them reverently, he lowered his lips to suckle her engorged nipples. Max moaned loudly, thrusting her hips against his. He moved a hand to the other nipple, pinching it softly as Max gasped. Moments later, he surfaced to capture her lips in again in a searing kiss.

Max ran one hand under his shirt, feeling the ripples of his muscles. Her other hand found itself undoing the buttons on his jeans. Alec stiffened as her fingers touched his hard flesh. He groaned, heady with pleasure, as he rubbed against her hand. Max wrapped her fingers around him, smiling in satisfaction as he gasped. She pressed her lips against his, nibbling his lips. In her excitement, she bit down hard.

The sudden sting on his lips jolted Alec from his haze. Max was still rubbing against him, her lips sucking his neck. He sobered as he realised what they were doing. He couldn't do this, however much he wanted to. Their friendship was too important. He paused, taking a deep breath, “Max?”

“Hmm…?” she answered, not a pause in her torture of his neck. Which he was sure would leave very obvious marks for all to see for days.

“Max. Stop,” he said, reluctantly pulling her arms away from him and detaching her legs from his hips. Immediately, he felt the loss of her warmth as she slid off the table in front of him, confusion and hunger evident in her eyes.

Alec quickly held his sleeve to his nose to keep from breathing too much of her pheromones. He grabbed a clean kitchen towel and held it under the tap. Suddenly a cold, wet towel landed on Max’s face. Reality started to sink in again, realisation crossing her face. Alec watched as she struggled to gather herself together.

“Oh, shit! I'm so sorry Alec! Didn’t mean to..” she backed quickly away from him, yanking her top up into place. She blushed.

He grinned, holding the damp towel to his nose, “No problem, Max. Its difficult, but I am quite willing to sacrifice myself for your pleasure.”
 

Max gaped, incredulous. “I can’t believe you can joke at a time like this! Do you have any idea what could have happened? What we could have done?” she shrieked.

“Hey, Max… You hurt my feelings. I am not THAT bad? Let me think… I could have sworn that I actually managed to please you just now,” Alec said, pretending to remember. As if he will ever forget, he thought in self mockery.

Max felt the heat rise as she remembered what they were doing, her body staring to release even more pheromones again in response. She groaned as she locked her eyes on his.

“Max…” Alec warned, his turn to back away now. Her pheromones were beginning to affect him again. He could feel himself harden. Max noticed it too.

Alec saw her luscious lips curve into a feline smile, and knew he was lost.

~~~

Alec cursed as the glaring sun shone through his eyelids, effectively waking him. Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes and yawned, clearing the cobwebs from his sleep induced mind.

Then he remembered. And his shoulders slumped.

Max. He looked around. He was on the couch. Where is she? As soon as the thought passed his mind, he heard footsteps from her room.

Max stopped as she saw him, and smiled at him sheepishly.

“Glad to see you awake. Good thing I came home when I did,” OC came out behind Max, disapproving frown on her face, “Couldn’t leave you two kids alone without you misbehaving.”

Max almost groaned as she remembered. Alec had Max pinned on the floor, caressing every bit of her body he could lay his hands on. When she came back to the apartment last night, OC had taken a look at the state the two of them were in and decided to take matters into her own hands. With the help of an iron. OC figured that they couldn’t do much if Alec was unconscious.

Alec touched the bump at the back of his head gingerly and winced. “OC, was it absolutely necessary for you to bash me this hard?”

OC chuckled, “Boy, I saved you from one very embarrassing morning after, a’ight. So stop whining. I gotta blaze, or Normal’s gonna have my ass. Later,” she walked out, shutting the door with a bang behind her, leaving Max and Alec alone.

Alec was still on the couch. Max was standing by the kitchen counter, fiddling with the hem of her jumper.

“Well… Good thing OC came home,” Alec said, breaking the silence.

“Yeah…” Max said.

Silence.

“Hey…” Max said… “Look…” Alec said at the same time.

They caught each others eyes and laughed, breaking the tension.

Max leaned forward against the counter, burying her face in her hands, groaning. “I am so sorry Alec. This is painfully embarrassing.”

Alec laughed walking over to her. “Like I said yesterday… No problem! Sorry it didn’t last long. But you did enjoy it, right?” She swatted his arm. Then he sobered up. “Seriously, Max. I mean, it’s not like you have any control over it, right. And my defence is – me neither.”

Max stared at him, uncomprehending. “What do you mean, you neither. You’re not the one in heat.”

“Oh, forgot. You weren’t there when they found out about it.”

“Could you be a bit more specific?” Max asked, curious.

“When you go into heat, you release pheromones. And those pheromones affect us male transgenics like heat affects you, almost. Blinded by desire to do only one thing – copulate, in Manticore’s terms,” Alec explained, wry grin on his face.

Max started at him, aghast, “What?! Argh! That explains it!” No wonder he was all over me. I didn’t even stop to think how strange it was that he was interested. I guess I just pegged him down as being a normal horny male. He probably won’t do it under normal circumstances, she thought. Max felt a bit uneasy (or was it disappointed?) when that thought crossed her mind.

“I guess Renfro would have better luck if she had waited till your heat before sending me as your breeding partner, huh!” Alec smirked.

Max gaped at him with an incredulous look on her face, and smacked him upside the head, “Shut-up! Don’t be such a smart-ass!”

~~~

At Jampony…

“Here Missy-miss,” Normal tossed Max two packages, “Sector 4 and 6. Bip! You gotta make up for yesterday,”

Max made a face. OC rolled her eyes. Alec smirked.

“I'll be right on it Normal,” Max said in a resigned tone, turning towards the exit while trying to stuff the packages into her bag. She frowned as she bumped into someone blocking her exit. Ready to give whoever it was a tongue-lashing, she looked up... and froze.

“Zack?” she whispered.

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