PART TWENTY ONE

The night seemed to take on a damp chill as they made their way back to the cave. Cal insisted that the entrance be kept shut at night, to avoid the detection of their presence. It was effective, because Max would never known anyone was out here at all if he hadn't been aware of the secret entrance.

A hush had fallen over the landscape, leaving everything quiet. It was in fact too quiet. He shivered, trying to shrug off his apprehension about what was to come. The warm pressure of Liz's fingers pressing against his only made his resolve more forceful. He would be strong for the both of them. He had to. Liz and the others were all he had on this unfriendly planet, and he would keep them safe at any cost.

He knew he would have to leave, but he had already decided he would come back. He would come back to Liz. Somehow, some way he would find a way back here, back to her.

All of this responsibility had suddenly been thrust at him, a past life that he'd never dreamed of, nor really could say that he wanted. But it was the only reason he was alive right now, and it was the sole reason he had been lucky enough to have crossed paths with Liz. For that, he felt he owed them the world. He would do his duty for them, and when his life was again his, he would return to her, and the life he was already beginning to hope for with her.

Feeling her hand tighten around his, he turned toward her and saw her apprehension as well, and gave her a reassuring smile, hoping that at least it might comfort her.

She gave him a small smile in return, and for a short moment, he took in her beauty bathed in the moonlight, her hair seeming to take on a life of it's own as it caressed her face, driven by the slight breeze.

Every time he looked at her he felt a sense of awe, that someone so gentle, so completely radiant could love him when simply knowing him had put her very life in danger.

And in this moment, a feeling of calmness and clarity came over him. He would no longer question it. The universe worked in mysterious ways, and the very act of bringing them together was a small miracle to him, one that he would treasure always, just as he would treasure Liz when he was finally given the chance, with no one chasing them, and no planet to save. Loving Liz made him bold enough to hope for it, for the day that would come when it would just be the two of them, Max and Liz.

Stopping and taking a deep breath and feeling Liz do the same, he waved his hand over the rock next to the entrance, revealing the now familiar glowing handprint. He lay his hand over the print, causing the rock to slide to the right.

Neither was prepared to find the group watching them expectantly as they entered the warm comfort of the chamber.

Isabel and Michael eyed Max warily as he stood, and he unconsciously pulled Liz a little closer.

"There's no time to waste," Cal said. "We need to talk about Pierce."

Max nodded and Liz put her hand on Max's arm in quiet reassurance.

They moved to sit on their blankets.

Cal waited for them to sit, and then began.

"We've told you that we have other contacts that are sympathetic to the Antarian cause. Word has gotten to us that the bounty hunters are close. We have to take care of Pierce and his unit now. We anticipated that there will be questions at the Bureau, and we've waited for this opportunity for a long time. Now that we've found Zan and the others, it is our chance to make our move. We can't chance any of you being captured again. Either this mission is a success or we die failing to complete it. There is no half way, no compromise. We can't afford it anymore."

"Pierce has gotten careless. Sooner or later, Kivar will be alerted to your presence if we don't take care of this now. The element of surprise is our only chance where Kivar is concerned. As for the humans, either you are in or out. If you are out, then leave us now. We can't afford anyone backing down on this at the last minute. If you are here, we will need your help. If all goes to plan, we will be greatly weakened after this is all over. We will need all of the help we can get. It would be completely understandable if you decide to leave, but please, be resolute in your decision. We need to know exactly who we can and can't count on," he said.

Liz glanced at Alex and Maria, and before she even had a chance to open her mouth, Alex spoke.

"I think I speak for all of us when I say that we're in," he said.

Maria nodded and Liz smiled at him.

John stood and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Are you sure Alex?" he said.

Alex turned and looked up at him.

"After everything you've told me the past few days, how could I not help? I mean, this is our world too. I like the idea of being some underground super hero," he said, chuckling.

"This is serious business Alex," John warned.

"I know that," Alex said with quiet reassurance.

"This is a chance to be part of something bigger than us. Billions of people's lives are at stake, as well as the beings living on their planet. If we can help, how can we say no?" he asked.

John smiled at him.

"I'm proud of you Alex, all of you. I'd hoped that was what you'd say. I felt exactly the same way," he smiled.

Alex blushed as he saw Isabel looking at him intently.

"Yeah well," he said quietly.

"Thank you," Cal said sincerely. "You won't be in any immediate danger tomorrow if all goes well. You will stay out of sight. We'll take care of the Unit."

"You said there would be questions about the Unit," Liz said, troubled. "How are you going to take care of that?"

"I was going to get to that, but since you asked," Cal said, walking over to the wall to the far right and putting his hand on it.

A moment later, another rock formation slid aside to reveal another secret chamber.

The others looked at each other in curiosity and expectation. Max stood, wishing he could be as impartial as the others were, but every new thing Cal showed them or told them reminded him he'd be leaving, and leaving Liz behind.

He could almost feel the sadness radiating off of her that matched his own.

He took the first step, the unconscious step of a leader, and the others moved to follow him.

Cal disappeared into the other chamber and Max reassuringly rubbed Liz's palm as he gently led her to the chamber and inside.

He looked around the area, which was about half the size of the outside chamber. A slight chill permeated the air as the walls inside seemed to glow with a dim green light.

In the center of the room, a large conical-shaped device stood pulsing slightly. Max felt it's energy fairly crackling in the room as the low hum seemed to attune itself to his own pulse.

Looking at Michael and Isabel, he saw the effect of the same sensation on their faces as they moved to stand around it.

"What is this place?" Max asked, as he turned to Cal.

"This is where all the secrets to your existence lies. This," he said, motioning to the device in the middle of the room, "is your way home. The Granolith."

Max moved to stand beside it, feeling Liz pull her hand gently from his. He turned to look at her, and knew she was trying valiantly not to let her distress show, but as she looked at it, it was plain to see that she was upset, knowing that this was what would take him from her.

He wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms at that moment, to tell her that everything was going to be ok, but now was not the time or place. He knew it, and she knew it. He could see it in her eyes. They told him that she didn't like what was to come, but that she would accept it, for him.

"What does it do?" Max asked, turning back to the strange machine.

"Many things," Cal said cryptically. "Right now all you need to know is that it will get you home in a months' time. Travel by conventional methods here on Earth would be impossible. By their standards, it would take a thousand years to get you back to Antar."

"You were saying something about the Unit," Liz said, trying to change the unpleasant subject at hand.

"Ah yes," Cal said, moving to the far corner.

His hand rested on the wall there, and suddenly the wall was lit with a bright green light, revealing a row of fourteen capsules.

Gasps were heard around the chamber when they all saw what was in them.

The shapes inside took a basic humanoid form, with no distinguishing features to distinguish one from the other, or to be able to positively identify any features at all for that matter. The forms inside were sexless, with no hair, no eyes, no body cavities.

Max watched as Liz walked over without fear to get a closer look at the capsules and what was in them.

"What are they?" she asked, turning to Cal.

"Something along the lines of what you'd call an android," he said. "They are not alive, at least not yet. When we've captured and extinguished Pierce and the others, they will take on the form of the members of the unit," he said.

"How?" Maria interrupted before anyone could say anything.

Cal looked at the capsules thoughtfully.

"They're made up of a material that assimilates to anything it comes into contact with. They were originally programmed to be guards so to speak, but I've modified them to suit our purposes. Their memory banks contain an artificial intelligence program and they can learn so to speak one hundred times faster than a human being. They will be our watchdogs within the Bureau. They will deflect questioning, take the brunt of any aftermath, and if and when their services are no longer needed at the bureau, they will be programmed to return here to await instructions," Cal said.

"What if they're killed or something?" Alex said.

"Their makeup will be so close to human organic matter that they will not be seen as anything other than human. Their biology will assimilate completely with the host, including the memory bank. For all intents and purposes it will look exactly like a human brain, down to the cellular level. There were many improvements in technology on Antar since we left. These capsules were sent to us twenty years ago. They've been in stasis ever since," he said.

Alex nodded, appropriately impressed with Cal's explanation.

"When the time comes, Cal will activate them. The process only takes about an hour to complete, and they will be ready to return to the compound," John said leaning against the wall.

"So that's why they were able to tell what we are," Michael said quietly, "because of old technology."

"Michael, the risk we took in sending you here to begin with was great. If your pods hadn't been found, I doubt that anyone would have ever found out that you were any different than any other human on this planet," Cal said.

"You never did tell us how they *did* find us," Michael said, crossing his arms over his chest. Max could see that he was bitter over what had happened to all of them and wanted, no needed a good reason for what happened to them.

"Michael, I wish I had an explanation, something that would make it seem like your time in the compound was worth it, but I don't. I don't know how they found you. I didn't even know where Nasedo had hidden your pods. He died before he could tell me. I thought at best you'd emerge and I would find you, and at worst you'd perish. If it makes you feel any better, there hasn't been any lead I didn't follow up in trying to find you," Cal said.

Michael looked away. Max felt his frustration and anger. Isabel mirrored the same emotions, thought both remained quiet.

"When will they be here?" Max said in a quiet voice.

"I expect the call to be made in the morning, so we'll need to be prepared for anything," Cal said. "They could show up at any time."

Max nodded.

"I'll be on guard again tonight," Cal said. "It's best if you all get rest."

Max almost laughed to himself. With the impending day tomorrow he'd be lucky if he was able to lie still for an hour. But he assented by nodding his head anyway, to appease his protector.

Realizing there was nothing more to say, They started to file out of the chamber. Cal waved his hand over the print again, and the chamber was again sealed.

An expectant silence settled over everyone as Cal left to patrol the area. Quietly they prepared to go to sleep, each wrapped up in their own thoughts and worries over what was going to happen the following day. Soon the kerosene lamps were lowered and the chamber grew dim, as one by one the group drifted off to sleep.

Max lay next to Liz under the blankets, feeling her warm presence next to him. His arm was wrapped around her waist, his chest pressed against her back. Her fingers absently stroked his knuckles.

She hadn't said anything since they'd left the chamber, and it worried him. They'd said that they would talk after Cal's meeting, but it suddenly seemed as if neither one of them had any words for each other.

Max concentrated on the rise and fall of her body as she breathed, and he knew she was awake.

"Liz," he said quietly.

"Hmm?" she answered.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

She pulled his hand to her lips, kissing it gently.

"Yes," she whispered.

"I'm sorry we didn't get to talk earlier," he said.

She slowly rolled to her side to face him.

"There are more important things to think about," she said in a low voice.

"No, not to me," he said, his eyes searching hers.

A sad smile curved across her lips.

"Nothing that we say to each other is going to change anything," she said.

"I know," he said, his voice hitched as his eyes grew moist. "I just....I want you to know how important you are to me."

"I already know that Max," she said, raising her finger to trace along his cheek.

"Tell me. Tell me what you're thinking," he said softly.

Liz closed her eyes slowly.

"I can't," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

"Why not?" he asked, pushing her hair behind her ear.

"Max, please I...." she broke off as a tear welled and slid down her cheek.

He pulled her into his arms, his hand threading through her hair.

"I hate this," he said hoarsely. "I hate that what I am is hurting you."

Her head rose quickly, and her eyes met his.

"No," she said forcefully. "What you are is exactly what I love about you. I love *everything* about you Max. Everything."

A look of decisiveness passed across her face and she pulled away from him. Glancing around furtively, making sure that everyone was asleep, she threw the blankets off and stood in her bare feet, picking up one of the blankets.

"Liz what are you doing?" he whispered, and she held her hand out to him.

He looked at her questioningly, and she continued to hold her hand out, looking at him expectantly.

"I want to talk to you away from here," she said, looking over toward the area where Michael and Isabel lay.

He sat up and paused, searching her eyes for any clue as to what she was thinking.

"Liz, we can't go outside. It's not safe, and Cal is out there," he started to whisper.

"We're not going outside," she said quietly. "Come on."

Slowly taking her hand, he rose and stood next to her, his hand never leaving hers.

After a long meaningful look, she gently pulled him across the chamber, careful to step around the sleeping figures of Alex and Maria.

She stopped in front of the area Cal had revealed earlier.

"Open it Max," she whispered.

"Liz, I don't think that's...." he started to say in a low voice.

"Please," she said quietly.

He looked at her for a long moment and then sighed, waving his hand over the hidden print, and then pressed his hand against it. Immediately, the rock slid aside.

Together, they entered the chamber, allowing the rock to slide back into place.

Neither of them noticed Michael watching them from the darkened corner, hidden by his sleeping bag.

*%*%*%*%*%*%*%

Liz stopped in the middle of the chamber and turned to Max.
"What is it Liz? Tell me," he said apprehensively.

Liz broke away from him and dropping the blanket on the floor, pacing agitatedly back and forth for a moment before stopping and turning to him.

"I can't do it. I can't lie next to you all night, thinking about what may happen tomorrow, that something might happen to you," she said. "And even if you're ok in the end, you're going to have to leave."

"Liz," he said, "don't think like that."

"Max," she said, taking a breath and looking into his eyes, "I want you to make love to me."

"Liz," he protested softly, "we can't."

"Max," she said shakily, "I know you're afraid of what might happen, and you're right, anything could happen. We could all wind up dead tomorrow. And I don't want to die not knowing you. Not knowing all of you. And I want you to know all of me. It's the only thing I have to give you. It's the only way that I'll be able to let you go when the time comes. Because I'll have a part of you, and you'll have a part of me, a beautiful memory for us to keep....until we can be together again," she said.

"I trust you Max. I trust you with my life. With all that I am," she said, her face streaming with tears. "Please give me this."

He lowered his gaze, unable to look at her.

How could he say yes when he didn't know the consequences? But how could he say no, when he wanted her every bit as much as she wanted him?

"Please," she whispered quietly, and he raised his head. His eyes met hers and he realized that there couldn't be any questioning any more. He couldn't deny her or himself any longer.

Tentatively stepping closer, he took her hand, his eyes never leaving hers. He tenderly brought her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on her palm.

She followed his move, closing the small distance between them, her free hand sliding around his neck.

Slowly their lips moved closer. Max felt her softness press up against the hardness of his own body as their lips met in unison.

If there was a heaven, Max believed he had found it in the arms of Liz Parker. Her body molded to his perfectly. Her heart thudded in time with his. His breathing matched hers. Until now, without even touching her, he knew that she was his love, the one person, the one being that complimented him perfectly. In many ways they were so different, yet the feeling was so strong that he could no longer deny it.

She was everything he'd ever dared to daydream of in those long days and nights in the compound. Never would he have imagined he would find that dream here on earth, yet there she stood in front of him, with love in her eyes and heart, only for him.

Everything about her assaulted his senses, the smell of her hair, the small whimper that reached his ears as his tongue explored her mouth, the sensation of her breath against his lips, the touch of her fingers on his neck. He was lost in the taste of her, the softness of her skin, the staccato of her heart beating against his chest.

He felt her lips pull gently away from his, and as he opened his eyes, he saw her drop gently to her knees on the blanket, her hand grasping his, her head raised to him.

She smiled at him softly, and he knelt down, pulling his legs out from under him until he was seated on the blanket.

"I love you Max," she said quietly.

"I love you too Liz," he answered, feeling his heart swell once again at her words. He didn't think he'd ever get used to hearing her say them.

She moved over until she was alongside of him, her thigh touching his. She leaned to her right, catching his lips in a tender embrace, lingering for a long moment before she broke the kiss.

Max felt her gentle hands at his waist, and then warm fingers slid under his t-shirt, sliding slowly up his sides, dragging the shirt up with them until it was caught under his arms.

Slowly he lifted his arms and she pulled the shirt over his head, dropping it to the side.

Max watched her as she leaned over and gently caressed the pulse in his neck with her lips, causing him to shiver. His body had already started to respond to her as soon as she'd touched him under his shirt, but seeing her looking at him like she was, full of love and awe made his stomach tighten in anticipation of what was to come.

In truth, he was nervous for so many reasons. He had no idea what would happen to either one of them. Would something bad happen?

He'd never been this close with anyone. The only people that had touched him before Liz had only touched him to hurt him, and even now, he was still growing accustomed to the tender way that she touched him.

He'd read enough to know what happened between two people when they made love. But what if he didn't live up to the expectations she had of their union?

Liz lifted her fingers to his chin and turned his head toward her. In her eyes, he saw that she saw his nervousness, and a little of it was mirrored in her own face. But she smiled at him, and Max felt most of the uncertainty melt away in the face of the love he saw shining in her eyes.

His eyes followed her hands as she gently traced the scars on his arms with her fingertips, reverently memorizing every nuance of his body.

He felt them slide to his back, where deeper scars lie, and felt them run along the slightly raised skin. In truth, he hadn't thought much about them since the day he and Liz had healed his wounds together. They didn't hurt, and were covered most of the time.

But now, he stiffened a bit, worried that she found them ugly.

But in that instant, she spoke.

"You're so beautiful Max," she said softly.

He looked down at his hands.

"I'm sorry for those," he said. "I didn't think...."

"Max, take them away another time if you'd like, but I think they're part of your character, of all you've been through, and seeing them only reminds me of how strong you really are," she whispered in his ear.

He smiled and lifted his head, turning slightly to look at her.

Her hand caressed his neck gently, and he pulled her into his lap, cradling her upper body with his arm.

Looking down at her, he lightly traced her lower lip with his finger before lowering his head to gently capture it with his own.

He truly felt as if his heart were going to burst out of his chest, it was pounding so roughly. He felt his response to her in the perceptible hardening of his lower body against her back. He placed his hand squarely in the center of her chest and found that her heartbeat was just as erratic as his, as his tongue gently entered her mouth. She met his overture with one of her own, her tongue swirling slowly around his. Time seemed to stand still for those few moments, until Liz sat up, never breaking the kiss, her leg moving over his until her bottom rested on his thighs.

Finally she broke the kiss, sitting straight and silent, waiting for Max. He looked at her for a moment, taking in the radiance of her flushed face and swollen lips.

With a slow countenance, he mimicked her earlier actions, his fingers sliding under her tank, slowly pulling it upward, exposing her skin inch by glorious inch.

She pulled the tank over her head and moved closer to him, moving over his arousal. He gasped softly as he felt her warmth touch him in such a sensitive place, and together they smiled.

Max couldn't stop looking at her. In removing her tank, she'd exposed parts of her body he'd never seen before. He barely contained a groan as he looked at her breasts, her nipples hardening in anticipation of his touch. Her skin glowed with an ivory radiance, her smoky eyes telling him that she found him just as arousing as he found her.

Yet he was reluctant to touch her, reluctant to break the spell that had come over them. He didn't want to touch her until she was ready.

He felt her fingers close around his wrist and she lifted his hand to her breast, placing it there as he let out a harsh breath as his palm came into contact with its velvety softness. Perfect. She was just perfect.

She wiggled even closer to him and he felt the friction of her heat through his pants and he closed his eyes, trying to maintain precious control over his body.

He felt the softness of her breasts and the tiny points of the hard tips of her breasts against his chest as her cheek pressed against his, her hair tickling his neck deliciously.

Unconsciously, she moved against his erection, and he felt the ache grow even stronger, desire shooting through his body like electricity.

She stilled, and they remained motionless for a moment, relishing the feel of warm skin against warm skin as Liz ran her fingers back and forth across his shoulders.

He nuzzled her neck tenderly and gently nipped at her pulse and she moaned quietly.

His fingers brushed across her nipple and she pushed against them.

Max felt a thrill race through his body at her response to his touch. A moment later that thrill turned into a blazing rush of need so savage as her hand moved to tantalizingly rub against his erection. A harsh breath erupted from his throat as his face tightened, trying to maintain restraint. Being close to Liz had been wonderful in itself, but this....

He leaned back slightly, moving his hands to her shoulders, his fingers lightly cupping them before sliding gently down her arms.

"Liz, you are so beautiful," he whispered as he leaned in placing light kisses on the slight swell of her breast as he felt her hands thread through his hair, tender and comforting.

If only this night never had to end.

"Max," she whispered, a husky tone invading her voice.

He looked up at her to see desire smoldering in her eyes as she stroked the hair away from his forehead.

His hands slid slowly around her waist, resting on the small of her back, pulling her closer as he placed gentle kisses around her breast.

He felt her fingers tighten in his hair as his nose brushed against her nipple and he raised his head quickly.

"Did I hurt you?" he asked.

She shook her head frantically, and suddenly he understood. An instant later, he'd captured her nipple between his lips, his jeans becoming impossibly tight as a small cry of pleasure erupted from her lips.

He gently teased the hardened tip with his lips and teeth as he felt his own erection pulsing beneath the rhythmic rocking against it.

His fingers replaced his lips on the one breast as he moved to the other, teasing it to attention as Liz's breathing became more ragged with each passing moment.

"God, Max," she breathed quietly, her eyes closed, head thrown back.

Little kisses blazed a path to her neck and she leaned down quickly assaulting his mouth with her own as he felt her open up to him, her essence flooding his mind like a sweet dream as images of her childhood flashed in his head.

Every thought, every feeling she had for him crashed into his body, intensifying his own desire in rolling waves. He felt her desire rising to a crescendo, and felt her soul touch for a brief second as she let out a harsh cry.

He felt the intense pleasure of her core brushing torturously against his erection, and he felt an intense pulsing. Suddenly he stiffened, crying out pressing his head against her chest.

His breath was harsh against her chest, his heart pounding fiercely as waves of pleasure passed through his body, blocking out all rational thought.

"I'm sorry," he gasped finally.

"For what Max?" Liz breathed. "The way you made me feel....I can't even explain it. It was amazing. For that one second, it was like I was inside you and you were inside me. Did you feel it?"

"Yes," he nodded, raising his eyes to meet hers.

She held his gaze for a moment, and then stood, pulling him to his feet.

Her fingers stroked the ridges of his stomach.

"If it was that amazing and we haven't even done anything yet...." she said in awe.

He tenderly kissed her forehead and cupped her cheek as he felt her fingers at the waistband of his jeans, unbuttoning them, pulling the zipper down.

Her fingers traveled across his waist to the small of his back.

His hand fell from her cheek to her neck, sliding down her chest to follow her lead, unbuttoning her jeans.

Again their lips met tenderly, as Max gently lay her back down on the blanket, moving alongside of her, his leg gently resting between her thighs as he hungrily searched her face. He swore he'd never tire of looking at her. Every time he did, he found something new and wonderful. Like the tiny scar over her eyebrow, or the little freckle at the base of her neck.

His hand rested on her stomach, and his hand slid lower and felt the dampness of the cotton beneath the jeans, his head rising quickly to look at her in amazement. She was feeling all of this, because of him?

*%*%*%*%*%*%

Liz smiled softly at his look of wonder. She knew he had no idea how endearing that look was, but it only made her love him even more.

She took in the beauty of his lean body, his muscles in his arms clearly defined, his chest and stomach that seemed as if sculpted by Michaelangelo himself.

She'd never felt anything like this until Max. He made her feel beautiful, as if she were the only girl in the world. From the moment he'd spoken to her, had met her eyes and she'd seen his gentle spirit, she'd been lost.

She wanted him to feel everything she was feeling. With trembling fingers, she scraped her nails lightly across his nipples, causing his eyes to close as he let out a soft groan.

Her palm slid along his stomach, lower, until she felt the elastic of his boxers, and slid beneath those as well, feeling the velvety hardness that was Max pulsing beneath her fingers for the first time, hearing his gasp of pleasure as her warm fingers closed tentatively around him. The slight dampness from their earlier ministrations caused her fingers to slide deliciously along his length as she marveled at the textures of his skin.

His head dropped to her chest as she slowly slid her fingers up and down his length, his breath coming in light quick puffs against her.

Suddenly his hand stilled hers as he looked up at her, telling her she had to stop before it went too far.

She slid her hand back up his chest and he leaned over to place a gentle kiss on her stomach.

His fingers hooked gingerly through the belt loops of her jeans and slowly pulled them off.

He rose to his knees and she returned the gentle kiss he'd placed on her own stomach by placing her lips against his. She looked up at him as she slid her hands underneath his boxers and pulled them carefully down to his knees, looking at him in this way for the first time.

He was maificent. There was no other word to describe his beauty as he looked at her, his eyes darkened in desire.

She gently traced the thin line of hair that originated at his navel in wonder.

But in the next moment, he gently laid her down, before kicking his jeans off lightly.

She lay still, allowing him to touch her as he wished. His fingertip ran over her breast in wonder, tracing a trail down her stomach to the elastic of her panties.

He looked to her for permission and she smiled at him.

An instant later she was gasping as his fingers touched the curls beneath her panties. She felt his warm finger slide a little deeper, lightly caressing the sensitive bundle of nerves it hid. A whimper escaped her lips at the smooth slide of his finger against her, making her feel as if she were going to explode right then.

His mouth sought hers eagerly, and she met every thrust of his tongue with one of her own as he continued to slide his fingers slowly back and forth until she was gasping.

"Max," she said breathlessly, "please...."

He stopped his movements for a moment, his hand gently pushing her panties down until she kicked them off.

He rolled toward her and she felt the wondrous weight of him on her body as he gently teased her tongue with his.

Liz felt his erection pressing insistently against her stomach, tightening her body in intense desire.

She moved her leg to the left, allowing him to settle between her legs, his arousal pressing torturously against her core as she rubbed against him in slight frustration.

"Now Max," she mumbled against his lips.

He pulled away slightly, his fingers stroking her cheeks gently.

"Are you sure Liz?" he asked with a troubled look.

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life. I love you," she said.

"I love you," he said hoarsely.

"Don't we have to be careful?" he asked. "I mean...."

"It's ok Max," she said. "I started taking birth control for medical reasons two years ago. We'll be safe."

He nodded, but Liz still caught the look of nervousness on his face.
"Max, it's going to be ok. How could something bad happen to me? This feels so wonderful," she said.

"What if you get sick?" he said.

"What if *you* get sick Max? You're taking just as much of a chance as I am. I trust you and I love you," she said.

"I love you too Liz, so much," he whispered.

Liz felt Max slide into her slowly and she moaned quietly.

She winced as he slid deeper.

"Liz?" he said, looking at her concerned.

"This is normal for the first time Max," she said, her eyes reassuring him. "It's supposed to hurt a little."

She felt him stop when he hit her barrier, and he started to pull away.

"No, please don't Max," she said, pulling him closer, kissing him. "I want this. I want to know you, in every way I can know you."

He stared into her eyes and she saw the agonized look of worry on his face.

"Please," she whispered, and an instant later his lips met hers as he crashed through her barrier. A barrage of images crashed through her head of Max's dream-world, of his love of books, of every image he had in his mind of her. And to Max, she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

These images distracted and awed her.

After a moment of stillness and the fading of the white-hot flash of pain, Liz slowly moved against him.

She watched as his face tightened in pleasure as she tightened around him and he slowly began to move inside of her sliding in and out.

A steady friction of desire began to build as Liz again felt Max inside of her both in body and spirit, as she felt him, felt his mind and soul, and felt the beauty of his spirit touch hers.

Tears came to her eyes at the intensity of his soul mingling with hers as he slid deeper inside of her before pulling himself almost completely out of her only to crash into her again.

His heartbeat thundered in her ears as she felt his desire build with hers maifying it until it blinded them both with it's intensity.

In that moment, Liz knew there would never be another for her. Her heart and soul were now irrevocably entwined with his forever.

She cried out as she heard his deep groan as their desire peaked.

Dimly, she felt his palm press to her throat gently and warmth spread gently through her entire body as she felt him fill her completely as he spilled into her.

All rational thought ceased for both of them as he collapsed against her, her arms wrapping around him tightly.

No, there would never be another Max. She'd lost her heart to him for eternity, and if it took an eternity for him to come back to her, then she would wait.