Max’s eyes widened as she comprehended his intent. It confirmed what she had seen in the depth of his eyes a second ago. She found herself unable to move as she watched his face descend slowly towards hers. She mentally tried to process what was happening but it was futile. It was like her whole brain had suddenly just stopped functioning.

When his lips brushed hers lightly, she felt a jolt at the contact. Then her eyes fluttered shut as he deepened the kiss, skilfully coaxing a response from her. She felt herself grow warm all over as she succumbed to the kiss.

Then suddenly it was over.

Alec pulled back to look at her, a glazed look in his eyes.

Max blinked in astonishment and quickly averted her gaze from him. Her hands found his chest, pushing him away from her in a hurry. At the same time, she stepped back, increasing the distance between them. She could feel the tension even now that they were no longer touching.

Still stunned, she took a moment to catch her breath before she spoke. Her voice contained a mix of disbelief, wariness and confusion. “What the hell was that for?”

Alec’s expression was unreadable. But Max guessed that he was just as surprised as she was about what had just taken place.

“Alec?” she prompted impatiently, wanting him to say something. Anything.

Alec ran a hand through his hair in a show of discomfort. He had not planned to kiss her; it had just happened. “What does it look like, Max?”

“Alec, you were kissing me. That’s hardly what you would normally do, right?” she said, incredulous.

Alec smiled. “And what was so bad about it? My kisses are legendary, you know. And you do know now,” he said in a teasing tone, trying to lighten the atmosphere. For once, he had no clue how to talk his way out of his predicament. He had thought that it was pretty obvious what was going on, but this was Max. She was the ultimate Queen of Denial. He supposed he could tell Max straight out how he felt, but he was not sure that she would take it all that well.

Max crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. “I can’t believe you’re joking about this.”

Alec shrugged and then grinned, “You need to ease up. You’re strung up so tight that I’m worried you might snap.”

Max glowered at him. “And how’s that related to what you just did?”

Alec groaned, realising that she was not about to let the incident go anytime soon. He should have known that this was going to happen, but her persistence had always added to her appeal to him. He laid his hand on her shoulders, feeling relieved when she did not brush it off. “Max, are you really telling me that you have no idea why I kissed you?”

Surprised at the counter-attack, Max was rendered speechless for a moment before she finally found her voice and said, “Are you telling me that you’re interested in me?”

Alec’s eyes went heavenwards. “You’re not as slow as you let on,” he muttered, unsure what would be her reaction now that she had found out.

Max had suspected it, but hearing the confirmation from him was still a shock. Her musings earlier when she had been doing her deliveries came to her mind. She had not answered her own question. Could she return his feelings? Max still had no idea what to answer to that.

At her silence, Alec’s apprehension grew. He would very much prefer her to hit him rather than go into her silent mode. When she was like this, he had no idea what she was thinking. “Max? You’re freaking me out.”

“Well, it’s all your own fault!” Max snapped, her confusion about the entire situation irritating her.

Relieved that Max had spoken again, he grinned, “I hardly think it’s solely my fault. You kissed me back too,” he pointed out smugly, and then went on, “I know that it’s difficult to understand why a fine specimen such as myself would want to subject himself to some violent chick, considering the number of options I have. I had to cancel many dates to bring you here tonight. It was hard, but hey, I’ve accepted it. And you should too,” he continued to babble.

Max’s eyes narrowed. As usual, she only focussed on the negative. Did he just say that she was violent?

Ignoring Max, he continued blithely, “Even Manticore tried to play matchmaker. I know that their methods were less than acceptable, but that’s Manticore for you. Copulation, they called it. I always thought that copulation was a really harsh word to use to describe such a pleasurable activity. But never mind that. What I wanted to say was that it was a shame that we didn’t get a chance to complete that particular mission…”

SMACK!

“Oww! Max!” Alec rubbed his stinging shoulders, eyeing Max with an offended look. She did not seem to know her own strength. Being hit by another transgenic was no laughing matter, even when one was a transgenic himself. “What the hell did you do that for?” he complained, indignant.

Max rolled her eyes, “Isn’t it obvious?”

“Fine, be that way!”

Grabbing Alec’s arm, Max yanked him to the stairs, “Let’s head home.”

Grinning, Alec waggled his brows, “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

“Get your mind out of the gutter!”

“What?” Alec gave her an innocent look.

“Alec…” Max warned as she held up her clenched fists.

He held his hands in surrender, “Okay, okay, chill… No need for further violence.”

SMACK!

“Damn it, Max! That hurts!”

They made their way down the tower without any mishaps. Walking side by side, each of them were preoccupied with their own thoughts.

In a contemplative mood, Max wondered how this latest development would affect their relationship. She did not know what to think. Being with Alec would be fun, they would never be bored the way they bickered all the time. There was no question about their physical attraction now that they had shared that steamy kiss. Max willed herself not to blush as she replayed the scene in her head. It was by far the best kiss she had ever shared with anyone.

Half an hour later they parted ways, Max to her apartment and Alec to his own.

Max was cursing at Alec for running out on her halfway to their destination. One minute they were pedalling side by side, and then, when she told him where they were going, he just sped off. He did not even bother to look back at her when he yelled over his shoulders that he had forgotten something.

“Right. Forgotten something. As if…” Max scoffed under her breath.

Max wondered what was it about this place which had made Alec so unsettled. She was positive that he was purposely avoiding it today. He had refused to tell her anything the last time she asked, but she hoped that in time, he would feel comfortable enough to do so.

Her thoughts went back to their trip up the Space Needle last night when he had pretty much told her that he liked her that way. She was aware that she had not given him any indication whether or not she felt the same way. The truth was, she simply did not know. Until a couple of days ago, the thought had not even occurred to her. She had enjoyed his company and that kiss they shared. She wondered if that meant that she actually felt something for him.

This morning when Alec had come up to her, asking to do their deliveries together, Max had not noticed anything unusual about his behaviour. He had not brought up the topic even a once during their last few hours of delivery. Max wondered if he had regretted saying what he did. The thought of that brought her a strange sense of disappointment.

As the gate came into view, Max saw a blonde man exiting. She hurried forward.

“Hey!” she shouted across the twenty metres or so which separated them. “Hold the gate!”

He apparently had not heard her because he let the gate slam shut behind him and continued to walk away briskly.

“Great,” Max muttered as she made her way to the gate at a slower pace.

Thankfully, this time she managed to gain entry without too much trouble.

When the front door opened to reveal a maid, Max said, “Jam Pony messenger. We delivered a package here a couple of days ago. Can I get a signature?”

The maid took the clipboard and walked into the house. Curious, Max stepped into the foyer and looked around. Her eyes went to a large portrait, taking in the family of three. The mother, who was wearing a golden locket, held her daughter lovingly. Max thought that they looked like a contented family.

She then walked back out and mounted her bike in readiness to return to Jam Pony.

Max walked into Jam Pony and headed towards Normal.

Slamming down the clipboard on the counter, she said, “Here, all signed.”

Normal looked unimpressed. “It’s about time,” he snapped, snatching up the clipboard to inspect it.

Rolling her eyes, Max swivelled around just to run straight into Moss.

“Hey, Max, you okay?” he asked with concern, grabbing her arms to steady her.

Max was about to come up with a sharp retort but when she saw the way he was looking at her, she suddenly felt tongue-tied. Those eyes should be classified as a weapon, she thought. Flustered, she carefully detached his arms from hers and said, “Yeah. Thanks.”

Pretending not to notice her reaction, Moss grinned, “So, where have you been? I missed seeing you today.”

“Busy with deliveries. How are you settling?” she asked.

“Okay, I guess. Managed to find my way around the different sectors,” he replied. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Alec enter the building with Sketchy. Hoping that Alec had not spotted them, he gestured towards the lockers. “Come with me, I’ll show you something,” he said, grabbing her arm.

“Huh? What?” she asked, but she did not resist as he pulled her along.

“I got hold of something today,” he said mysteriously as he made sure they were hidden from view.

Max wondered if it was wise for her to stand here alone with Moss, considering her reaction to him. But her curiosity got the better of her, so she stood silently as she waited for him to fish something out of his pocket.

When he finally found what he wanted, he grabbed her hand and pressed a small object into her palm.

Max looked down and her mouth fell open. It was a tiny watch, exquisitely crafted. She had never seen one so beautifully made.

“That’s for you,” Moss said softly, still holding her hand.

Max glanced up to see him looking at her as if he was seeking for approval. Much as she liked it, she suspected that if she accepted the watch, Moss might take that as a sign of her interest. She still had not had a chance to analyse how she felt about him. Her reaction to Moss, coupled with what happened between her and Alec up at the Space Needle last night, was throwing her entire perception of her non-existent love-life into shambles.

She had a sense of not wanting to hurt Moss’s feelings after he had obviously gone through so much trouble to procure something so nice for her. Swallowing with great difficulty, she forced herself to say, “Moss, I can’t take this.”

As expected, his face fell, making Max feel guilty. “Why not, Max?”

“It’s too much,” she said lamely.

“What am I going to do with it then?” he asked with a wry grin. He moved so close to her that she could almost feel his breath. “Think of it as a repayment for rescuing me. Keep it, okay?” he coaxed gently.

Unable to say anything else, Max decided just to nod.

Smiling, Moss took the watch out of her hands. “Let me put it on,” he offered, bending over her wrist.

As he strapped the watch, a small movement behind Moss caught Max’s attention. Peering over his shoulders Max felt her heart sank as she noticed who it was. Moss and Alec’s little scene yesterday morning came rushing back to her. She was sure that Alec would not be too happy seeing her alone with Moss now.

“Alec…” she started, feeling Moss tense in front of her as he straightened.

“Hey, there you are!” Alec greeted jovially, but when he came closer, Max detected the almost imperceptible murderous glint in his eyes. Looking back and forth between Max and Moss, he asked with an innocent look, “What? Did I interrupt something?”

Moss raised his eyebrows and gave Alec a smirk, “No. We’re all done anyway.”

“Oh yeah? What are you up to anyway? Care to share?” Alec drawled lazily, but his eyes were shooting daggers at Moss.

“Alec, you should know by now that I don’t share,” Moss retorted in a pointed manner, his smirk still firmly in place.

Max blinked in astonishment as she saw Alec visibly reining in his anger. She had never seen him so close to losing it. She was not stupid; she could read the undercurrents of their conversation. Alec probably had guessed that Moss was interested in her and was obviously not happy about it, considering his own feelings for her.

“Hey, Alec. We need to go if we don’t want to be late to Joshua’s,” Max said, trying to distract Alec.

Alec turned his attention to her, taking a couple of seconds to digest what she had just said. “Right. Joshua,” he repeated. Not looking back at Moss, he continued, “Let’s go.”

But Moss apparently was not willing to give up yet. “Who’s Joshua?” he asked Max.

“Another transgenic, but he has canine DNA. He’s invited us for dinner,” Max explained.

“Really? Another one of us!” Moss exclaimed, sounding excited.

Alec rolled his eyes. “There’re hundreds of us out there but I guessed you missed the graduation ceremony at the base, huh,” Alec said sarcastically.

Moss did not respond to Alec, instead, he pointedly continued to speak to Max. “Say, could I come too? Would be nice to meet another one of our kind,” he said, giving Max a hopeful look.

Max hesitated, unsure what to do. Moss sounded genuinely interested. She knew that if someone were to tell her there was another transgenic around, she would be just as interested. Her only worry was that Alec might talk Joshua into serving Moss up as the main course. On the other hand, perhaps forcing them to sit together would help them come to terms with their animosity.

Fat chance, she thought as she sneaked a glance at Alec, noting that he was looking exaggeratedly bored.

“Alec, do you think Joshua would mind?” she asked.

Alec shrugged. “How should I know?” he replied, completely nonchalant.

“Look, if it’s too much trouble, then it’s okay. I don’t have to go, Max,” Moss said, managing to sound disappointed.

Max suddenly had an overwhelming urge to bash Alec’s and Moss’s heads together.

Rachel sat in her bed and stared at her father in disbelief.

“But, Dad, I don’t want to do it,” she protested.

Berrisford sighed. “Rachel, Dan helped save your life. All he asks is for you to talk to the guy for a while,” he tried to reason with his headstrong daughter.

Rachel jutted out her chin stubbornly. “I don’t want to see or talk to him again,” she declared.

“It’s just for a few minutes,” her father persisted, ‘…a few minutes until I get hold of the bastard to make him pay!’ he continued in his head.

Slumping in defeat, she said softly, “Dad…I can’t…”

“I hate to say this, but you don’t have a choice. It’s a small price to pay for your life,” her father said in a solemn tone.

Rachel buried her face in her hands and sobbed. Her breath ragged, she whispered ferociously, “I hate him! I hate him!”