Part 28A *************** Liz held a hand over the side of her face, as she and Maria entered Victoria’s Secret. Maria rolled her eyes, pulling Liz inside. “Hun, how do you expect to put on something sexy for Max, if you can’t even come into the store without blushing?” Liz yanked her arm back, straightening her shoulders. “I’m not blushing. I just, I don’t know. I just feel like everyone’s watching me, or something. It’s like they know exactly what I’m planning.” Maria laughed wholeheartedly. “Liz, we’re at Victoria’s Secret. This isn’t some kinky sex shop where you have to get in by some secret code word. For goodness sakes, it’s located inside the mall.” Not being able to think of something clever, Liz just stuck out her tongue, her arms crossing over her chest. Maria pointed a slender finger at her. “Alright, that right there, that isn’t helping. You can’t be all, I’m still five years old, and still sticking out my tongue. You’re a grown woman. Max already has two kids, he doesn’t need another one. He needs someone who’ll get his blood boiling, for all the right reasons .” She waggled her eyebrows suggestively, linking her arm with Liz’s as she pulled the two of them further inside. “Think about it. You and Max, the two of you were like energizer bunnies even when you were preggers.” “MARIA!” Liz’s eyes were huge, her jaw hanging open. “Chica, relax. No one can hear me. Besides, you’ve got more important things to be worrying about, rather than people hearing the crazy things coming out of my mouth.” Liz tucked her hair behind her ear, keeping in stride with Maria. “Alright, so what should I be worrying about then? Because obviously, you think there is something to be worrying about. I mean, is it, do you think Max- Maria snapped her hands together, mimicking a mouth. “Liz, Liz, Liz. Babe, this whole talking thing,” she made a wild gesture with her hands, her arms flailing in the air. “None of that. You got me? NADA! When you and Max are alone, there should be none of this going on. The man he deserves some lovin’ and you obviously do too. I mean you’ve totally got ants in your pants.” Liz laughed at Maria’s colorful choice of words. With every word that was coming out of Maria’s mouth, she was feeling a little more at ease. She clasped her hands behind her back, following Maria. “Okay, miss expert. What’s the plan?” Maria gave her a bawdy grin. “Actually, it’s miss sexpert.” Liz reached over, smacking her on the shoulder. “Okay, okay. I get it. Overkill with the jokes.” She held her hands up in defense. Liz just looked at her, holding up her hands, as if asking, What now? “Well, first thing, is first. You have to find something you like. You can’t just get something because it’s hot, or because it’s racy. If you’re not comfortable with it, then there is no way you’re gonna be able to pull this off. You’ll probably lock yourself in the bathroom and won’t come out, leaving Max outside, worrying his heart out.” She threw her arm around Liz’s shoulder, guiding her to the sexy nightwear. “Lizzie, this right here, this is Mecca. You find something you like and then you can try them on.” *********** After going through all of the racks, looking for something that she even remotely liked, and didn’t think looked trashy, Liz held her few chosen items towards the dressing room with Maria. “Go on ahead, chica. I’ll be right out here.” Liz took a deep breath, closing the door behind her. She placed her items on the small bench and began undressing. She hung up her clothes on the little hooks, quickly picking up a sexy little nightgown. She pulled it over her head, smoothing it down over her body. She studied her reflection in the mirror, twisting around to see the little skirt fly over her thighs. She let out a sigh. This wasn’t sexy at all. In fact, she already had something like it at home. What she was looking for, was something that would make Max’s jaw hang in the air, something that would make his heart race, just at the sight of her, and this really wasn’t it. She took the offending garment off, tossing it onto the bench, as she grabbed another one to try on. After a couple of tries, she realized most of what she had picked out was a little too conservative. It was totally lacking the sexiness that she was looking for. She sighed heavily, looking at the last piece that she had picked out. Her heart suddenly began racing as she saw the red material, her hands trembling as she touched the lace between her fingers. This outfit, unlike the others, was a little racier. This one had just caught her eye, and made her tingle with anticipation. She quickly slipped it on, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she looked in the mirror. When she saw her reflection, she let out a gasp. “I heard that gasp! A gasp can only mean good things. Open up the door, chica. Let me see.” Maria rapped her knuckles against the door, laughing when Liz stuck her head out cautiously. Liz threw a glance down the hall, making sure that there was no one there before she opened the door, letting Maria see her. Maria’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes bugging as she fanned herself with her hand. “Lizzie, you are one hot momma!” She grinned excitedly. “And I mean that literally.” She turned Liz around, checking out the whole outfit. “Girl, when did you get all of those curves? Geesh, Max is gonna blow a fuse when he sees you.” Liz tucked her hair behind her ear, smiling nervously. “You think so? You don’t think it’s too much?” Maria shook her head, her hands on her hips. “Not at all. I think it’s just perfect. It’s very sexy.” She let out an excited giggle. “Somehow, I get the feeling that after you wear this, that baby number three won’t be far behind.” Liz shook her head furiously. “No way! As much as I want more children, there is no way I’m ready to do that now. I mean can you imagine all the crap I’m going to put Max through? This is supposed to be a reward of sorts. I don’t want to kill him.” She grinned roguishly. “And besides, if he does go early, it’ll be because of ah.....” she waggled her eyebrows, pointing to her newly acquired figure. Maria laughed, shaking her head. “You are soooo bad, girl!” ************ When they brought their items up to the counter, Liz grabbed a bottle of strawberry scented lotion. She eyed the bottle, then remembered the night she had asked Max to help her with it. She quickly grabbed another one, just to be on the safe side. She reached inside her purse, pulling out her cell phone. “Hey mom. Is it still okay if I leave the kids with you tonight?” Diane laughed into the phone. “Of course it is.” Liz nodded even though Diane couldn’t see her. “You didn’t tell Max about it, did you?” “Nope. In fact, Phillip has him busy in the den. We’ll send him home whenever you’re ready.” “Thanks mom. I appreciate it.” “You two have a good time. Just don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Diane teased. Liz brought her hands up to her cheeks, feeling them flame up. Tonight was the night, and there was one Max Evans that needed a little reward. She clutched the bag with the things she purchased, smiling to herself. Yep, Max was definitely in for a treat tonight. Part 28B NC-17 ************** Diane walked into the den, signaling to Phillip that it was time. Phillip smiled, giving her a thumbs up, waiting for her to leave before clearing his throat. He stood up, slapping Max on the shoulder. “Thanks, son. But I think I can handle it from here. Maybe you should go home.” He looked at his watch, pretending to be surprised to see what time it was. “Would you look at the time? Shouldn’t Liz be getting home right about now?” Max stood up, wiping the palms of his hand on the back of his worn jeans. “Yeah, actually.” He tugged on his baseball cap, looking around the den. “Are you sure that you’ll be okay? I mean I could always call Liz and tell her that I’m going to be a little late.” Phillip shook his head, practically pushing Max out the door. “No need for that, son. Your mother’s here. She can help me.” Max looked skeptical, but he clutched his keys in his hands anyway. “Well, if you’re sure.” Phillip just waved, ready to close the door, when Max began banging his fists against it. “Wait! I still have to get the kids.” Feigning innocence, Phillip opened the door a smidgen, but not enough to have Max come storming inside. He wasn’t about to get yelled at by his wife by not being able to send his son home. “Oh, yeah. Right. About that. Why don’t you let us take the kids for a little bit?” When Max looked ready to refuse, Phillip thought quickly. “It’ll only be for a little while. The house has been pretty lonely these days, and with the kids here…….” he smiled when he saw the flicker in Max’s eyes just as he gave in. And they said that only mothers possessed those kinds of tricks! Max nodded. “Sure dad. Keep the kids for as long as you like. When they start getting restless, you can go ahead and give Liz and I call and we’ll come pick them up,” he joked. Phillip waved goodbye, watching as Max drove away. “Is he gone?” Diane walked into the room, carrying Leah. “Just left. He said to give him a call in a couple of hours so that he and Liz could come pick up the kids.” Diane frowned at him. “You didn’t tell him that the kids were spending the night?” Phillip just laughed. “Nah, I thought it’d be more fun if he found out from Liz.” **************** Max dropped his keys on the table, walking up the stairs. “Babe? I’m home!” Liz looked at herself in the mirror, biting the corner of her bottom lip. This was it. She took a deep breath, calling out to him. “I’m up here!” Max pushed the door open to their room. He grabbed the bill of his cap, ready to throw it on the dresser when he heard the creak of the bathroom door opening. He smiled when he saw Liz’s head poke out, her chocolate eyes twinkling. “Hey, you. You just gonna hide behind that door all day, or are you gonna come over here and give me a kiss?” He held out his arms in welcome, grinning widely. Liz gave herself a quick pep talk, telling herself that she could do this. “Here goes nothing,” she muttered under her breath. She threw open the door, walking towards Max, in nothing but the red teddy that she had bought, accompanied by garters, stockings, and stilettos. Max’s arms fell to his sides, the hat he was holding in his hand just moments ago, falling to the floor forgotten, along with his jaw. Max was sure that he was visibly drooling, his heart pumping against his chest so hard, that he could almost feel an imprint of it on his skin. Liz stopped about a foot away from him, shifting her weight from foot to foot, her fingers working to push her hair nervously behind her ears. She bit her lip, waiting for a reaction out of Max. Her eyes were downcast as she felt him rake his eyes over her body. She might as well have been naked, because the teddy she was wearing barely covered the essentials. She was tempted to place her hands over her body, but it was a little two late for that now. This night was going to go one of two ways. Either she was gonna run back to the bathroom and hide in there till the end of time, wondering what the heck she thought she was doing, or she could channel all of her nervous energy and make this a night to remember for her and Max. Finally looking up, Liz couldn’t help but smile at Max’s stunned expression. The latter was definitely winning out. She took a deep breath, sidling up to him, her eyes raking over his body. She placed her hand on his shoulder, letting it slide down his chest. She walked around him, her breath on his neck as she spoke. “Hey.” Max had yet to move from his initial stance, afraid that he would fall over if he even attempted to take a step. His amber eyes burned a deep midnight, following Liz’s every move. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand to attention, his skin turning into gooseflesh as he heard Liz’s sultry voice in his ear. “He-eey….” He gulped at his pathetic attempt of using his voice. He could feel Liz smile next to his ear, before she sunk her teeth into his earlobe. He felt himself shiver, his breath coming in labored pants. Who the heck was this sexy vixen? Liz giggled in his ear. “I’m still waiting for a kiss, babe. You’re not gonna leave me hanging, are you?” “I…..uh…..” Max tried to speak, but he couldn’t make his voice cooperate. Liz slid her hand further down his chest, her hand kneading the muscles in his chest. “What was that, babe?” She walked around him again, standing nose to nose with him, her breath tickling his lip. “C’mon- He reached behind her head, pulling her to him as he feasted on her lips. He groaned as he felt her tongue in his mouth, her tongue caressing his. His hands cupped her face, pulling her to him as if he couldn’t get her close enough. His hands drifted down her shoulders, under her arms, pulling her to stand on her tip toes. “Liiizzzz…..” He breathed her name like a prayer, his knees bending as he nuzzled her neck. Liz’s head fell back as she felt his hot kisses trail down her neck, leaving behind a wet trail, his teeth leaving imprints as he marked her as his. “God, you’re so beautiful.” He could barely think straight anymore. “What are you doing to me?” His voice was a hoarse cry, his lips lingering by her ear as his hands trailed down her back, groaning when he felt the silky smoothness of her skin beneath the material of her teddy. She grinned against him, her hands coursing over his back, finally coming to rest on his firm buttocks. “I’m saying hello,” she teased. “Isn’t that what you wanted me to do?” Unconsciously, he thrust his hips forward, his fingers creating a trail of fire on her skin. “In this?” Liz could feel him smiling against her neck, his tongue snaking out to taste her. “Or should I say, in hardly anything?” With his words in her ear, Liz couldn’t help but blush a little. She slapped his chest playfully. “Maax!” He pulled back, grinning into her eyes. “I didn’t even know you owned something….well, something like that.” He waggled his eyebrows at her scantily clad form, playing it out as a joke, when all he could think about was making love to her. He wanted her so bad he thought he was going to explode if he looked at her long enough. She raised her arms to cover herself. “You don’t like it.” He walked up to her, licking his lips, his eyes raking down her body hotly. He shook his head, his arms crossing over his chest. “Like it? I don’t know. I know I like watching tv, I like sleeping in on weekends……” He gave her a head to toe glance, shaking his head. “Nah, I don’t like it.” Liz felt the tears well up in her eyes, as she attempted to run back into the bathroom, but Max grabbed her arm. She pulled away, running to the door, her hand on the knob, when Max pulled it back shut. His breathing was loud in her ears, almost as if he had run a mile. “I don’t like what I see. Like is a word I would use to describe something mundane.” He turned her around, pinning her against the door, his hands resting on either side of her head as he whispered in her ear. “You…..I LOVE. This….” His hand came down to her shoulder, moving lower until he cupped her breast, his grin feral as he felt her nipple harden, the sound of her sharp intake of breath, driving him insane. “You’re beautiful.” He kissed her forehead, continuing to speak. “There aren’t enough words in the English language for me to describe how I feel, what I’m thinking.” He looked down at her, smiling. “And you know what the sad thing is? I’m an English teacher.” Liz felt a little more at ease with his light teasing, feeling herself relax a little more. His fingers had found their way into her hair, his nose buried in it as he immersed himself in her scent. “Pinch me.” “What?” She almost laughed out loud at his sudden request. “Why do you want me to pinch you?” He gave her a lingering kiss, his teeth tugging on her bottom lip. “I need to know that this isn’t a dream.” Hearing Max’s uneven pants, feeling him at the point of losing control, made Liz feel powerful. She could feel her courage building up. She pushed him away a little, her tiny hands balling up at the edge of his shirt as she pulled it over his head. Once it was off, she directed him to the bed, making him lie on his back. His hands reached out to touch her, but she just wagged her finger at him. “Not yet.” Max closed his eyes, digging his head deeper into the pillow as he felt the bed shift, finally feeling Liz’s weight on legs. He opened his eyes to see what his little vixen was up to, when he let out a strangled moan. There she was, with her back turned, on all fours, undoing the laces on his sneakers, giving him a view of how little her body was covered. Unable to keep his hands to himself, he reached out to touch the softness of her legs, moving higher until he was at her center. With a shaky finger, he traced a path at the crotch of her teddy, his eyes widening when he realized that it had a snap on it. He pulled at it with his fingers, swallowing thickly as it fell open, giving him a view of her delicate folds, shinning with wetness. Liz groaned, her hips bucking back as she felt the sudden coolness on her heat. “Oh God!” They had been without each other for too long. Any plans of teasing they had, vanished the moment Max slid a finger inside her, both of them hungry for more. Flustered, Liz fumbled with Max’s button, yanking down his zipper as far as she could. She didn’t even bother with pulling them off, instead, pulling him out of his boxers, finally sinking down on him. “SHIT!” Liz actually found herself grinning at the sound of Max yelling out an obscenity. This was the first time she had ever heard him say something like that in the heat of passion, and it ignited something in her. She got up on her knees, slowly rising before quickly sinking down on him. Max’s head rolled from side to side, his hands gripping her hips tightly as he helped her. There was just something so exciting about this new position, seeing her move over him with her back to him, as she continued to swallow his body whole was driving him crazy. “Oh God…..Lizzz…..” He thrust his hips up, unable to keep them still. Liz continued to ride him, her bottom grinding against him mercilessly. She threw a look at him over her shoulder, her hands pushing away her dark hair. He licked his lips like a hungry man, sitting up. He brought his hand to her chin, bringing her lips to his, devouring her. His other hand reached to cup her breast, toying with her nipple. She sucked his tongue hard, causing him to groan. He moved his hand lower, just above where they were joined. He thumbed her special bundle of nerves, crying out when he felt Liz clench down on him. He pulled away from the kiss, his mouth opening in a hoarse cry, grunting as he lost all of his control, spilling his warmth inside her. Liz fell back heavily against him, chuckling as she looked down at herself. Barely able to speak, Max gulped in a lungful of air. “What’s……so..funny?” She kissed his jaw, as she brought his hand to her breast. “We’re still half dressed.” Max opened his eyes, taking in their appearance. He kissed her shoulder lovingly. “Well, technically, I am. But you….” “MAX!” Part 28C NC-17 ****************** Max nuzzled Liz’s neck, his arms coming to wrap around her waist. “You smell so good.” Liz peeled herself from Max, laughing. “Yeah right. I’m sweaty, and sticky. I reek.” He grabbed her wrist, keeping her from moving. “Hey....where are you going?” She grinned at him, stepping quickly into the bathroom. “I’m taking a shower.” Max sat there on the bed, looking from the door, to where Liz was just comfortable on his lap. She wanted to shower now? Just as the thought escaped his mind, Liz poked her head out of the door. “You just gonna sit there all night and look ravished, or are you gonna help me wash my back?” Max jumped off the bed, intending to run into the bathroom. In his haste to get there so quickly, he tripped over his feet, falling face down on the carpet with a loud, Oompf! Liz stuck her head out again, caught between wanting to laugh, and feeling sorry for her husband. She held her hand to her mouth, fighting back her giggles. “Honey, are you okay?” Max pushed himself up, pretending to dust himself off. He cracked his neck from side to side, sniffing in. “I’m good.” He tried to play it cool, walking into the bathroom, stripping the rest of his clothes as he went. Liz raised an eyebrow at him, a playful smile on her lips. “Impressive.” He shrugged his shoulders, standing underneath the stream of water. “I try.” He held out his hand, helping Liz inside. He pulled the glass door closed, grinning when Liz had to step closer to him as there was hardly any room in the shower stall for two people. She reached for the bar of soap, lathering her hands. She brought them up to Max’s shoulders, down his arms, all the way to his hands, giving each of his fingers a delicate massage. “I thought I was supposed to help you shower. Not the other way around.” He teased her, enjoying the small smirk on her lips. Her hands had made it to his pecks, her fingers working his nipples into stiff peaks. “Oh, you’re helping.” A roguish grin made a home for itself on her lips as she listened to his breathing turn into pants, his muscles tensing as she moved lower. He braced his hands on her shoulders, trying to keep himself steady. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you? You like seeing me squirm.” She squeezed his hips, her fingers dancing over his stomach, his belly button. She felt him suck in his stomach, anticipating her next move. She looked up at him, her eyes wide with sexual arousal. “I like knowing that I can do this to you.” His chest heaved, his knees trembling as she continued to play at his happy trail, intent on ignoring a certain part of his anatomy that was crying for attention. “Do what?” His voice was low, so husky that he almost didn’t recognize it. She stepped closer, her hardened nipples scraping across his pecks, her tongue snaking out past her lips to lick the hollow of his neck. “This.” With that, her hand closed the distance, wrapping around his rapidly hardening member. She smiled in satisfaction when his eyes closed, a soft moan escaping from his lips. “Liz.” Max squeezed her shoulders, holding onto her for dear life. His head fell back, the water cascading over his dark locks, as he lost himself to Liz’s ministrations. “Mmmm....” He licked his lips, his hips thrusting forward as Liz moved her tiny hands over him. He grimaced with pleasure as she squeezed the tip, her mouth trailing over his shoulders, his chest, anywhere she could reach. “I love you, Max.” Hearing her soft words, Max was broken out of his haze. He took in a lungful of air, trying to find it in himself to stop himself from going over without her. He reached between them, his hands dwarfing hers. “Liz...” She shook her head, pushing his hands away. “No. I want this.” She gave his sacs a good squeeze, telling him that she meant business. Max knew not to argue with her, but he still didn’t want to go alone. He reached between her legs, his fingers coating themselves in her essence. He felt her movements slacken a little, making him feel triumphant that he was as much a distraction to her, as she was to him. He cupped her chin, fusing his lips with hers as his digits probed her, burying themselves deep. Liz gasped, her hand gripping him tightly as he brought her teetering to the edge with him. Her eyes opened, locking with his before bursts of hot white lights flashed in front of their eyes, their bodies convulsing together in an earth shattering orgasm. When they returned to earth, they gave each other an open-mouthed kiss, whispering words of love. ************* After finishing their shower, they dried themselves off, both of them standing on the bath mat. Max bent his head, placing a sweet kiss on Liz’s lips. “Love you.” She welcomed his kiss, giggling when he rubbed his cheek against hers. “That tickles.” She ran her hand down his cheek, her fingers jumping as they were tickled by the stubble that was growing in. He grinned, stroking his jaw. “You don’t like it?” “I think it’s sexy. It just tickles.” Max eyed his reflection in the mirror, shaking his head. “I might as well shave it off while we’re in here.” He turned to her, giving her a suggestive look. “Wouldn’t want to have you laughing when uh...finish what we started.” Liz laughed as she stuck her hand inside the towel that was hanging off Max’s hips. She raised her eyebrow as she held his now flaccid member in her hand. “Seems to me like we already finished.” Her eyes grew wide when she felt him give a slight jerk. “I take that back. You seem to have quite the libido there, Mr. Evans.” She grinned wickedly. His laugh rumbled in his chest as he pulled away from her. “It’s all for you, babe.” She smacked his butt. “Now that’s what I like to hear.” He continued to laugh, shaking his head as he reached into the medicine cabinet for the shaving creme. He shook the can, spraying a generous amount in his hands, quickly spreading it over his skin. Liz walked up to him quietly, perching herself on the counter. “What?” He rinsed his hands in the water, wondering why Liz was looking at him like that. “Can I help?” “Help?” She nodded eagerly, reaching for the razor. “I wanna do it for you.” Max didn’t know how to respond. She seemed really excited to do it for him, so he just shrugged his shoulders. Whatever made her happy. “C’mere.” She beckoned him with her crooked finger, spreading her legs so he could stand between them. She kissed the tip of his nose, uncapping the blade. “Tell me if I hurt you.” He gave her a brief nod, trying to keep as still as possible as she raised the blade to his skin. He was surprised at how gentle her strokes were, smiling as he watched her pour all of her concentration at the task in hand. Her cute little tongue peeked from the corner of her lips, her body leaning back, her legs tightening over his waist as she focused. Max closed his eyes, breathing deeply as he felt the softness of Liz’s thighs wrap around him, feeling her warmth surrounding him. Liz grabbed a towel off the rack, wiping the smidgen of shaving creme that was stuck on Max’s face. “All done.” Max opened his eyes, the amber color seeming to almost glow in the misty bathroom. “The aftershave.” At this point, he was looking for any excuse not to relinquish the position he was in. Her mouth opened in a cute little O shape. “Oh, right. Sorry, I’m kinda new to this.” She reached for the little bottle, twisting the cap. “How much?” Max held his thumb and forefinger about a quarter of an inch apart. “Just a little bit.” She smiled, nodding as she poured some on her hands. She rubbed her palms together, bringing them up to his soft skin. She bit her lip when she saw him grimace a little. “Sorry.” He shook his head, waving off her attempts at an apology. He kissed the tip of her nose, whispering softly in her ear. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” He looked at her from under hooded eyes, feeling her shiver against him. “Anything I can do to repay the favor?” Liz reached behind her back, revealing a bottle of strawberry scented lotion. “Think you’re up to it?” Part 28D NC-17 *************** “Think you’re up to it?” Liz held the bottle of lotion in her hands, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she looked at Max from lowered lashes. Max took the bottle from her hands, his head nodding jerkily. “Su-sure.” He hid a cough behind his hand, feeling like a complete dork. You sure know how to knock ‘em dead, Max. The thought past idly through his mind as he replayed his bumbling movements from earlier. He honestly didn’t know how he wasn’t turning Liz off. What was it they said about a woman wanting a guy who was confident? He couldn’t quite grow out of that awkward phase. The one where he became a complete fool when he was on the receiving end of one of Liz’s smiles, or her soft laughter. Liz wrapped her legs tighter around Max, enjoying the way he fit so snugly between her legs, almost as if he was made to be there. Her head bent forward, her forehead leaning against his as she licked her lips. He was wearing one of those shy grins on his lips, the one where he seemed so stunned that she was even looking his way. She loved those grins. She brought her arms to rest on his shoulders, her fingers running through his dark locks. “Come on. This towel’s chafing my skin.” She kissed the outer shell of his ear, grinning when she felt the slight tremor go through his body. “Right.” His hands came to rest at her waist, but he didn’t move. He just pulled her closer, his nose buried in the crook of Liz’s neck. She giggled lightly, pulling away to look into his eyes. “Hey....I thought you were gonna help me with the lotion.” His head bobbed against her cheek, the smoothness of his freshly shaven jaw gliding effortlessly with her skin. “I know. Just give me a minute.” Liz tipped his chin up, wanting to look into his expressive eyes. “A minute to do what?” “To feel you.” He let out a dreamy sigh, his fingers brushing away her dark tresses. His lips descended on hers for a sweet kiss. With his hands on her hips, he pulled her body to the edge of the counter, offering her the bottle of lotion as he reached to carry her back into the bedroom. When Liz figured out what he was going to do, she tried pulling away, her hands connecting with his muscular chest, her legs untangling from his waist as she began spouting off protests. “Max! NO! Quit it!” He looked at her perplexed, wondering why she didn’t want him to carry her. Carrying her was something he had always done ever since they had been married. Heck, he had even carried her when she was pregnant. He didn’t understand her sudden refusal. “Liz?” She continued to move away from him, shaking her head indignantly. “Don’t! I’m too heavy.” Max’s jaw fell open, his face disbelieving. “What? You’ve got to be kidding! Since when have you ever been heavy?” “That’s real sweet, Max, but we both know I’ve been packing on the pounds while I was pregnant with Leah.” She bit her lip, her eyes blurring with a thin film of tears as her insecurities began gnawing at the pit of her stomach. She gave Max another good push, her legs closing, but Max stopped her. He placed a large hand on either one of her thighs, placing his hard body snugly between her. His hands moved to cup her cheeks, tilting her face up so that she was looking at him. He felt his heart cramping in his chest as he saw her tear filled eyes. He would never understand how insecure she was feeling, but he needed her to understand that he loved her. He had thought after what he had said, and how they had come apart twice in each others arms, that she was okay with everything. But apparently, he was wrong. Max traced his thumb under her eye, brushing away the offending moisture. “Liz.....sweetheart. Believe me when I say that you are not heavy. Even when you were pregnant with Leah, you were practically lightweight.” His lips moved to her ear, the pitch of his voice lowering a few notches. “Why is this bothering you so much?” “Because.” She sat back, sniffing. “My body is so different now. I don’t.....I just......I keep thinking that one of these days, you’re finally going to open your eyes and really see me....and when you do, that you’re going to hate it.......hate what I’ve become.” Max growled a little in frustration. He picked up Liz, carrying her to the bed. He placed her in the middle, his hands quickly removing the towel from her body. He heard the loud gasp she made in surprise at his actions, but he didn’t let that deter him. He yanked the knot on the front of his towel, letting it fall onto the floor as he joined her on the bed. Liz sat up, her hands moving to cover her nakedness, but Max wouldn’t allow it. He just shook his head at her, his hands holding hers captive as his body moved over hers. His voice was low. “Don’t you realize how beautiful you are?” He let go of her hands, letting them to drop to her sides with a dull thud. His hand caressed her cheek before moving to her neck, to her shoulder, then to her breast. Unconsciously, his face gravitated to them, his lips puckering to kiss each of the eraser like tips. Liz let out a breathy moan, her hands aching to hold Max’s head, to keep him from moving away. “Maax....” Max nuzzled her breasts with his whole face, placing light kisses everywhere. He would open and close his eyes, letting his long eyelashes tickle her sensitive skin, making Liz squirm. He smiled faintly, enjoying the sweet torture he was giving her. In reality, he wasn’t really purposely trying to torture her. This was something he had been wanting to do when he had first caught sight of her much larger breasts. He had never really been a breast man. He had always liked how he could hold Liz, and she fit him perfectly. Like she was made only for him. But knowing that the swell of her breasts came because he had loved her to the point of creating a life, it did wondrous things to him. Liz squirmed against him, her body feeling like it was on fire. The ache began in the pit of her stomach, and all she could do was plead Max’s name, begging him to fill her. “Maaax.....” Max was suckling her breast, his tongue laving her nipple delicately. He could feel his body trembling. Hearing Liz’s voice caused him to pull away. Liz whimpered, her hips rising in the air, her head flying from side to side where it rested on the pillow. Max sat up, his fingers playing in her dark patch of curls before slipping his finger inside her wet warmth. He grinned tightly, extricating his fingers before they had a chance to aid Liz’s ache. “Noooo!” She whined petulantly, her hips bucking. “Please.....please....” Her sobs filled the air, her fists curling into the sheets. Max held her chin, pulling her to sit up slightly. “Open your eyes.” Liz obeyed, resting her weight on her elbows as she looked at Max. Her breath left her body, as she caught sight of him, kneeling before her spread legs, his erection standing proudly against his belly. “You see what you do to me?” His voice cracked, his hand running over his hard flesh for a pass. “You do this to me, Liz. Only you.” Liz swallowed thickly, her tongue licking at her lips. Her hand reached out to grab him, pulling him down to her. “Mine,” she breathed. He lowered himself over her, his body sliding into her tight passage. “I’m yours. Only, yours.” His eyes closed, his breathing labored as he began a slow rhythm. He gathered her body close, wanting them to touch everywhere. She wrapped her legs around his waist, meeting his slow undulating pelvis. “Oh God......Maaax.......Mmmmm.....yeah.......right there.....please....Oh God.....Oh God!” She clawed at his back, her nails leaving long red welts. Max hissed, his thrusts gaining momentum. His hand cupped her ass, bringing her closer to him. “I love you Liz.....only you.....always.” She nodded, her hands trailing to his lower back, down to his buttocks as she pushed him to the hilt. “YES!....YES!” Liz felt Max’s body stiffen before he flooded her with his warmth, triggering her own release. His hoarse cry echoed in her ears, his body heavy against hers. Liz smiled, welcoming him, loving the feel of his body still buried deep inside her. She brushed the wet strands of his hair away from his face, kissing his closed eyelids. “I love you.” Part 28E ************** As night waned, Max lay still on the bed, listening to Liz’s deep even breaths as she continued to sleep. She was partially laying on her stomach, but she kept shifting, continuing to hog the blanket as she always did. He couldn’t help but smile and be glad that some things didn’t change. Max sat up, lifting Liz’s long dark hair over her back. The moonlight seeped from the window, bathing her naked body in a soft glow. His fingers flittered over her shoulders, down her back, checking to see if there were any wings sprouting out. He was so sure that one of these days, he was going to find she had wings hidden, because he was convinced that she was his own personal angel sent down to him from heaven. Max lay his cheek on her back, his arm coming to wrap around his waist. “I love you so much, Liz. I wish....I wish that you didn’t doubt that. I could never...you’re the one....the only one....” He could feel tears of his own filling his eyes as he whispered. “You keep worrying, that one day I would open my eyes and realize that I don’t want to be with you......It hurts me when you talk like that.....it’s like I’m not doing a good enough job of showing you how much I love you. It makes me feel like I failed you, because I promised to make you happy for the rest of your life...” He buried his face against the smoothness of her skin, his nose resting against the indentation of her spine. “Your fears are unfounded.....There is no way you are ever getting rid of me.....Not without a fight......” He brushed his lips against the small of her back, wiping away a droplet of his tears. “You’ve given me a piece of heaven. I only wish I could do the same for you.” Liz shifted in her sleep, causing Max to sit up. He wiped away at his tears, going to the bathroom quickly. He didn’t want to wake her. He just wanted to speak to her without any interruptions. He had heard somewhere that people were more likely to listen in their sleep, rather than when they were awake. He just hoped that she heard him. When Liz heard the door to the bathroom close, she let out the sob that was caught in her throat. Her shoulders shook, as she let out all of the emotions she had been holding in when Max had given her his speech. She knew that he thought that she was sleeping, but he couldn’t have been more wrong. She could always hear him, and for the first time since she had Leah, she had heard, Max. Not so much in the literal sense, but she finally understood. *************** Max turned on his side, his arms reaching out to cuddle Liz. When his arms encountered nothing but air, he quickly sat up, his eyes wide as he scanned the room. “LIZ!” Liz walked into the room, carrying a tray of food, smiling. “Mornin’ sleepyhead.” She carried the tray to the bed, settling it in between her and Max. Max rubbed heavy hands over his sleepy eyes. “What’s all this?” “Breakfast. You were dead to the world, so I figured I could whip us up something.” He yawned loudly, his arms stretching above his head, his lips curling into a shy smile. “Aw, Liz...you didn’t have to do that.” “I know. I wanted to.” She picked up a fork, handing it to him. “Since it’s the weekend, I was thinking that we could pick up the kids from mom and dad’s and spend the whole day together. We haven’t done anything like that since I went back to work.” She stirred the sugar in Max’s coffee, while he poured extra syrup on the pancakes the way he knew Liz liked. All of their actions were routine. They complimented each other without even knowing it. “Sounds good.” He pushed a forkful of food into his mouth, his eyes closing in delicious delight. “And this....this is really good.” He licked the side of his lip where a string of syrup didn’t quite make it into his mouth. He rubbed his tummy, taking another generous forkful. “I didn’t realize I was so hungry.” Liz blushed, as she sipped her coffee. “Yeah, well I think we forgot to eat last night, you know, what with me mauling you as soon as you got home.” Max gave her a dopey grin. “Food is overrated anyway.” Liz shook her head, containing her laughter. She cleared her throat, her face serious as she took Max’s hand in hers. “I just, I wanted to thank you for last night. You were such a gentleman, and you did and said everything I needed to hear.” “Li- “No, let me finish.” She squeezed his hand, bringing it up to her cheek. “I know that my insecurities have been, well they’ve kind of been overbearing. And you’ve been such an angel to put up with me.” “Hey....I don’t put up with you. I love you. I just wish that you would speak to me when something’s bothering you.” She nodded, placing a kiss on his palm. “I know that, now. I realize that my body changing isn’t the end of the world. They’re minor to what we were given. We have a beautiful baby, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.” Max smiled slowly. “That’s great, honey. But what changed your mind?” She curled her fingers around his, looking into the amber pools of his soulful eyes. “I had this dream last night, and, basically it made me realize that this is something insignificant. That I have a husband who loves me so much, and I want him to know that all of his reassurances, all of his love...it wasn’t in vain.” Max felt his cheeks flame, realizing that Liz had heard everything he had said last night. He leaned over the tray, carefully placing a kiss on Liz’s lips. Liz sighed into his mouth, her lips brushing against his as she spoke. “You’ve already given me a piece of heaven, too, Max..”