Author: Restive Nature
Disclaimer: Neither show represented in this fiction belongs to me. Dark Angel is the product of Cameron/Eglee and Fox, whereas Supernatural is the product of Kripke and The CW. No profits are made from this fiction and it is intended for private enjoyment only.
Rating: PG-13- NC-17
Genre: Crossover
Type: Romance
Pairing: Max Gueverra/ Sam Winchester
Summary: What if... Max had been having a different dream?
Spoilers/ Time line: This starts when Max is thirteen and going into heat for the very first time.
Feedback: Always welcome!
Distribution: Ask first please.
A/N: This story, while being in the same universe as When It Changes, does not actually occur within that storyline. This fiction is just an off-shoot of what might have happened.
Chapter Twenty-three
The Calm Before The Storm
"Max? You home?" Sam called as he came through the front door.
"In the bathroom," she called back. Sam shucked his bag, jacket and shoes, leaving them at the closet. Max exited the bathroom, a towel over her head, wearing her bathrobe. "Hey sweetie," she greeted. "How was your day?" Sam accepted her hug, tweaking at the curls that peeked out from the towel, still damp from her shower.
"It was fine," Sam answered, leading her towards the sofa. "But I want to hear how your first day went."
"Why do you do that?" Max chuckled.
"Do what?" Sam asked with a laugh as he sat.
"Blow off what you were doing," Max answered as she settled into the sofa beside him. "Make my day more important than yours."
"Well my day was boring," Sam complained gently. "All I did was go to class. Besides, seeing you happy makes me happy. Is that a crime now?"
"No," Max laughed again, lifting her legs up to rest on the coffee table.
"So?"
"Oh okay," Max sighed as she removed the towel wrapped like a turban to rub at the ends of her damp hair. "Well, it was about what I expected. Margee was great. She's going to stay through this week and then she'll go on her maternity leave."
"So what all were you doing?" Sam asked, making himself comfortable as well.
"Well, I was leaning and running the desk until nine thirty and figuring out class schedules. Then Margee and I got ready for the ten o'clock class. It went well. Met a lot of people. Margee was just amazed that I had the routine down after one class."
"That photographic memory of yours kicking in, huh?" Sam teased, leaning back to wrap an arm around her. Max snuggled into him and continued.
"Child's play, really. The challenge will be knowing when to step it up so the group as a whole isn't plateauing. But keep it challenging until everyone's ready to move on."
"I can see that," Sam nodded.
"But anyway, I headed back to the desk after that, then lunch."
"Didn't you have a seniors class?"
"This afternoon," she confirmed. "Again, same deal. We go a little slower and gentler with them. But it was actually more fun."
"Really?" Sam was mildly surprised. "How so?"
"Well," Max grinned, "the younger women are driven, you know? They're there to work out. The seniors are a mixed group, there to do a little working out, visit with friends."
"So they're the fun bunch?" Sam laughed.
"And matchmakers," Max added in a wry tone. "You wouldn't believe how many of them thought I should meet their son, grandson and in one case, plural, since all of her grandchildren would love me."
"And you refused of course," Sam raised an eyebrow, but Max looked up at him in consternation.
"Why would I do that? It would have hurt their feelings."
"So what?" Sam scoffed. "You're going to cheat on me just to keep a bunch of old biddies happy?"
"It would serve you right if I did," Max scolded lightly, giving his ribs a poke, "just for thinking that."
"Well, I'm sorry," Sam sighed, trying to fight off a smile. "Can you blame me for getting jealous of... how many guys are we talking about here?"
"Um, last count, several dozen," Max giggled and Sam shifted, about to protest again. "And I said that I didn't refuse meeting them," Max continued over him. "I simply told them all the various things that we, as in these young men, I and my boyfriend could do."
"Did they take the hint?" Sam grunted.
"God, you're so possessive," Max rolled her eyes.
"Again, can you blame me?" Sam demanded, wrapping both arms around her shoulders, kissing and then nuzzling her neck. Max poked him once more in the ribs, giggling at him.
"Actually they want to meet you too," she chuckled. "Cause you know, where there's single grandsons..."
"There's single granddaughters," Sam groaned. "Oh what did we do to deserve this?"
Max laughed heartily. "They don't mean any harm, Sam."
"I know," he grinned, but then turned serious. "So it was a good day?" he asked. "No problems of any sorts?"
"No. No problems," Max confirmed, knowing precisely what he was concerned over. "Everyone was really friendly. A few guys called me perky, but I think it was in reference to my attitude and not... um, other things."
"Better not have been," Sam muttered darkly.
"Well, since Steve commented on it as well, I'm going with that idea since he seems to be a little too smart to get involved with sexually harassing his employees."
“Uh huh," Sam smirked. "So you think it's a good job?"
Max nodded. "I'm liking it more than the store already. I mean, I get to do physical stuff, 'cause you know I just hate sitting around. And I don't have to lug stuff around, except for helping to restock the equipment store."
"Don't you sit at the desk?" Sam asked, puzzled. Max shook her head.
"There's a chair there, but I only used it when I ate lunch and a few times for long phone conversations."
"Well," Sam smiled happily. "I'm glad you like it."
"Oh, I think you'll like it too," Max quirked an eyebrow at him and Sam gave her a questioning glance. "I told you that I can get a guest pass for you, right?"
"Oh," Sam groaned, letting his head fall back against the sofa. "You're not gonna put me through the paces, like Dean used to, are you?"
"Well, unlike your brother," Max wiggled her nose, "I planned on motivating you, with me in a very tight Lycra workout outfit and the promise of a nice long soak in the hot tub afterwards."
"They have a hot tub?" Sam's eye's lit up.
"And a sauna," Max chuckled. "Mitch was telling me that he and Sara, his wife, enjoy spending time once a week playing racquetball together and of course, the hot tub afterwards."
"Well that sounds good," Sam shrugged. "Except I don't play racquetball."
"Mitch and Steve give lessons," Max told him with a barely concealed smirk. "Group or private, beginner to advanced and you'd get the employee family discount."
Sam grinned. "Would this be your way of telling me that you'd like us to take lessons?"
"Only if you're interested," Max replied seriously. "And it can be something else. Doesn't have to be raquetball."
Sam tilted his head to the side consideringly. "That sounds like it could be fun," he decided. "Honestly, I've been feeling kind of sedentary lately."
"Well that works out then," Max decided contentedly. "Oh, speaking of Mitch and Sara, would you mind if I invited them over to dinner sometime soon? Mitch and I have to sit down and figure out our self-defense class."
"That'd be fine," Sam nodded. "This weekend?"
Max pursed her lips and thought it over. "I'll ask what would be good for them. They may want to line up a sitter."
"They've got kids?"
"Three," Max nodded. "All of them in school," she continued. "The youngest just started first grade."
"Well they'd be welcome too," Sam said quickly.
"That's sweet honey," Max patted his knee, "but the burden of entertaining would fall on you. And I bet Sara would enjoy an evening off. She works at home."
"Okay," Sam nodded. "That'd be fine."
"Besides," Max shrugged, "you'll probably get to meet them all soon anyway. Margee says that Steve and his wife throw a great family oriented Christmas party each year. They also do a family day at the gym a few times a year."
"This is sounding like a more excellent place all the time," Sam teased but Max smiled happily as she snuggled in closer to him.
"Yeah, I think I may have finally found my niche."
*****
Max's cell phone rang just as she pulled into the curb at home. Quickly cutting the engine, she reached for her phone, checking on who was calling her. It was Jess, though it wasn't much of a surprise. Max had been expecting a call at any point since Jess and her boyfriend Caden had gone away together the past weekend. And she knew that it wouldn't have been Sam, because he was in his essay writing class until seven that evening.
"Hola girlfriend," she answered, her tone slightly cheeky.
"Hey sweetie," Jess answered back, her voice brimming with happiness. "This a bad time?"
"Nope. I just and I do mean just, got home from work," Max laughed. "I haven't even gotten in the front door yet."
"I'm sorry," Jess chuckled. "I'm not sure of your new schedule yet."
"No problem," Max dismissed, but as she unlocked the door, she heard the other telephone ringing. "Oh shoot," she muttered.
"What?"
"Other line," Max grunted in explanation.
"Oh okay," Jess chirped. "You can call me back."
Max agreed and hung up her phone just as she picked up the house phone. "Hello?" she greeted, striving not to sound out of breath.
"Hello," a woman's voice answered back. "This is Teresa, from the Dean's office. I was wondering if I could leave a message for Samuel Winchester?" It threw Max for just the tiniest moment, since most people actually asked to speak with the person first before mentioning a message.
"Uh, sure." But apparently, Max's split second hesitation registered with the other woman, because she laughed.
"Sorry," Teresa apologized. "It's just, I have his class schedule before me. I just thought I'd call before I left for the evening in case he had an answering machine. I know he was anxious to hear about his interview. Actually, I haven't met a student yet that isn't." She chuckled again and Max gave a wry smile as she reached for a pen and the pad of paper that they kept on the counter for moments like these.
"I can imagine," Max murmured. "All right, I'm ready for the information." The woman dutifully relayed the date and time of the interview and after writing it down, Max echoed it back.
"Now, if that doesn't work, Mr. Winchester will need to let me know as soon as possible," Teresa instructed.
"I don't believe it will be a problem," Max mused. "But why don't I take your number now, just in case?"
"Certainly," Teresa spoke the Dean's office number slowly and Max unnecessarily repeated it back after again, having written it down. "That's it then," Teresa's voice sounded relieved.
"Well thank you very much," Max grinned. "Hope you have a good night."
"You too," the woman replied gently and they hung up. Max fingered the pad of paper and thoughtfully turned to the calendar. She flipped up the sheet to the next month and switching to a pencil, lightly wrote in Sam's appointment on the correct date. She dropped the calendar sheet and set the pencil back in the box, next reaching for the phone book. One more call and then she'd call Jess back. She was done in a matter of minutes. Jess picked up immediately when she called her back, having been waiting for Max's call.
"Sorry 'bout that," Max spoke lightly. "It was the Dean's office calling about Sam's interview."
"Oh good news," Jess bubbled. "Is it soon?"
"Start of next month," Max related. "That's a couple weeks off. Which is good. Gives him time to prepare, but not so long that he drives himself nuts about it."
"Exactly," Jess agreed. "But then, I'm sure you already know how to calm him down."
Max laughed. "My ways are many and varied, yet not so mysterious."
"As the majority of womanhood will attest to." They both laughed.
"But hey, speaking of," Max changed the subject slightly, "are you free for a little shopping tomorrow... or whenever?"
"I'm always up for shopping," Jess enthused. "What are we looking for?"
"A knock his socks off dress," Max supplied promptly.
"Oho," Jess cooed. "And this will be for...?"
"Mm, I was thinking of taking him out the evening after his interview, do a little celebrating, that sort of thing," Max giggled.
"My, we certainly sound sure that he's going to get in," Jess teased.
"Jess," Max countered seriously, "if there's one thing in this world I'm sure about, it's Sam."
"Aw," Jess crooned. "You guys are just so... aw!"
"Yup," Max grinned. "Actually, I made the reservation right before I called you back."
"Well then I can definitely help you with the shopping," Jess agreed. "Are we going to be keeping this a secret?"
"Yeah, I think so," Max decided. "It'll be fun to surprise him. Now, tell me how your weekend with Caden went."
*****
After Jess hung up from talking with Max, she immediately dialed Sam's cell phone. He probably wasn't out of class yet, but she didn't want to wait. Indeed, he didn't answer and when it put her into voice mail, Jess grinned. "Hey sweetie, it's me," she announced. "Remember when you mentioned that you wanted to plan a romantic evening for Max? Well a little birdy happened to tell me that she's planning a surprise dinner for you early next month. Call me back if you want the details. And remember, sh! It's a secret!" Satisfied that she'd pique his interest, Jess hung up and turned her attention to her growling stomach.
*****
Sam took a moment in the car to paste a slight scowl on his face. After his conversation with Jessica, he was definitely in a better mood. But as Jess had said, he didn't want to give anything away. He climbed out of the car and headed up to the house. He entered and shut the door and flung his bag to the floor with a little more force than necessary. "Max?" he called out heavily.
"In the kitchen sweetie," she called back. His lips twitched as he headed that way. She was standing at the stove, sliding some fresh vegetables from the cutting board into a pot. Sam slipped up behind her and wrapped his arms about her waist, resting his cheek on the crown of her head.
"Mmm, something smells delicious," he whispered.
"It's just casserole and veggies," she told him, patting his hand with her free one and sounding amused.
"I wasn't talking about the food," he murmured, holding her a little tighter. She angled her head up and around to regard him.
"You okay?" she asked sympathetically.
"Rough day," he sighed. "Professor Normans is still busting my chops about my writing," he told her honestly.
"I'm sorry," she told him simply.
"It's too bad the course is mandatory. If it wasn't, I'd drop it."
"Well," she began logically, "since they're going to be expecting you to write up legal briefs and such, some rudimentary writing skills are nice."
"Rudimentary I can do," Sam scoffed. "But Normans just nitpicks so much!"
"Well you know honey," Max continued in the same tone, "not every professor is going to automatically adore you."
"I know," he grumbled. Max leaned forward to adjust the dial at the back of the stove, grunting when Sam didn't release his hold on her. She laughed and turned in his arms, wrapping her arms about his neck.
"Tell you what," she smiled up at him. "Dinner's not quite ready yet. Why don't you go have a nice hot relaxing shower?"
"Sounds good," Sam agreed, touching a kiss to her nose. "Are you going to join me?"
"I would honey," she frowned slightly, "but I need to stay here with the veggies." Sam pouted a little and Max smiled indulgently. "Or, we could always have a hot bath together, after dinner."
"That one," Sam decided with an alacrity that made her laugh. His arms tightened about her again, but she pressed one hand to his chest.
"Before you try distracting me again," she mockingly scolded, "Teresa from the dean's office called about your appointment."
Sam's face brightened. "She did?"
Max nodded. "I wrote it down and penciled it in on the calendar. You need to call her back as soon as possible if there's a problem." Sam let her loose to go over and read the message.
"Nope," he nodded once, his mood even brighter now. "This'll be just fine. Hmm, gives me time to prepare."
"That's what I thought," Max told him as she stirred the sauce she was preparing.
"Do I need to call her back to confirm?" Sam asked, glancing at the phone number listed there.
"No, I don't think so," Max shook her head. "That was just for if you couldn't make the appointment."
"All right," Sam took a pen from the counter and mimicked Max's actions of earlier, marking the date with permanency. Setting the pen back down, he sighed. "Well, since you're so cruelly denying me physical comfort after my hard toils of the day, I guess I'll set the table." Affecting an injured air, he moved to the cupboard to retrieve some plates. He chuckled as he heard her muttering under her breath.
"...peach bubble bath makes it all better."
"What was that?" he asked teasingly.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Max sassed back as she reached for the oven mitts.
"Something about peach bubble bath?" he winked.
"Mm, no," Max shrugged. "I was just thinking that I should see if Jess is free on Thursday."
"What's Thursday?" Sam asked, returning to the counter for utensils.
"A day of the week that generally comes after Wednesday," Max stuck her tongue out at him.
"Generally?" he poked fun at her. "I thought it was usually."
"Always!" Max scoffed as she bent over to retrieve the casserole dish from the oven.
"No seriously," Sam grinned as he set out the forks. "What's up Thursday?"
"Well, I need some new shoes for work," Max explained. "And I asked Jess if she was free to go shopping with me. I thought Thursday would be better than tomorrow, since you have class that night."
"Max," Sam caught her hand as she shook the oven mitt loose, "baby, you don't have to be here every second that I am. I can survive a few hours without you. Oh! Or better yet, I can go shopping with you. I'm going to need some new dress shoes, or something for my interview."
"After what happened last time?" Max scoffed. "I've learned my lesson about shopping with you."
"Yeah," Sam scoffed right back, "well, if you hadn't dragged me into Victoria's Secrets, I would have been just fine."
"Actually, that was kind of fun," Max chuckled. "I haven't seen you blush like that in years!"
"Well it wasn't from embarrassment, I'll tell you that," Sam growled.
"Not at first anyway," Max teased. "But if you need shoes that's fine. We can go tomorrow and Jess and I can go Thursday."
"All right," Sam laughed, giving in. "That's what we'll do." They carried the food to the table and sat to eat.
"And Jess wanted me to ask you," Max continued, carrying on the vein of conversation, "if we were joining the gang for Halloween this year."
Sam frowned as he returned to the refrigerator for a drink. "I thought we were going to stay home and hand out candy, like last year."
"Well, that's what I told Jess," Max supplied. "And she was ragging on us for being party poopers."
"She actually said that?" Sam laughed.
"Uh huh," Max smiled. "Apparently someone and she won't say who, wants to dress up the whole group in a theme... thing or something."
“Costumes?” Sam scoffed as he resumed his seat.
“I’m more scared of the theme idea,” Max returned as she dished up a portion of the chicken and rice. They glanced at one another and said at the same time, “Alli!” and then both burst out laughing.
“She told me that her entire family once dressed up as the Sherwood Forest gang,” Max got out between chuckles.
“Really?” Sam guffawed.
“And her grandma was Friar Tuck.”
“That would have been…”
“Scary?” Max supplied. “Actually, she looked pretty neat. Allie showed me the pictures once. She had the fake beard and everything.”
“Well,” Sam grinned, “as neat as that sounds, um…”
“I’m not into costumes either,”” Max pursed her lips teasingly and Sam’s eyebrows rose.
“Mm, I think I’m starting to rethink my position on dressing up,” he sighed happily.
“You mean changing your mind on my dressing up,” Max corrected with a laugh. “But you should consider, what if Alli gets everyone to go with a different theme or movie? Like say… The Rocky Horror Picture Show?” Sam’s face took on a pinched look and then he shuddered. “Uh oh,” Max muttered, “maybe I went too far.”
“You think?” Sam asked sarcastically.
“Well,” Max sighed, “how about we go out for a while, no costumes?”
“If you’d like to we could,” Sam agreed. “What time is everyone getting together?”
“Around nine,” she answered. “So most of the trick and treaters should be done by then.”
“And if they’re not, we can just leave the candy on the porch,” Sam added.
“It’d be gone in two seconds,” Max pointed out dryly. “And we might come home to find the house completely egged and T.P.’d.”
Sam sucked in a huge lungful of air. “Well,” he sighed deeply, “I guess that’s just a risk that we’ll have to be willing to take.”
“All right,” Max giggled. “Now eat. I’m into the mood for a bath.”
“With peach bubbles?” Sam’s eyes twinkled.
“If you’re lucky!”
*****
“Trick or treat!” Some familiar voices called out through the door, following a knock. Both Sam and Max, recognizing Trish and Dennis’ voices, rose to answer the summons.
“Have you got the camera?” Max asked and Sam held up his filled hand, giving her an amused grin. Max grabbed the bowl of candy situated next to the door. The kids, of all ages, had been prowling the streets, even before the couple had arrived home. Max pulled open the door to greet their neighbor.
“Oh my goodness!” Max grinned. “Who is this little butterfly on my porch?” She gazed down at the little girl, bending over to talk to the almost two year old. The girl gave Max a small scowl.
“’s Tasa!” she announced. Max pursed her lips and touched one finger to the girl’s chin and tilted her little face up.
“Well I’ll be! It is the Tash-monster!” The girl giggled and Sam knelt down to her level.
“Hey Tasha,” he greeted with a huge grin. “Do I get to take your picture?”
“No!” the child announced authoritatively. “Ah-yup Sam!” Sam ducked his chin, trying not to laugh at the child’s antics. Instead, he held out his arms and lifted the girl up, trying not to be poked with the pom-pom balls attached by wire to a headband. Max easily took the camera from him, replacing it with the large plastic bowl.
“Come in,” she gestured to Tasha’s parents.
“Just for a minute,” Trish sighed as she and Dennis stepped in. “You guys are our last stop.”
“She wore you out, huh?” Max teased.
“Everything wears her out these days,” Dennis confided as Trish nodded.
“You can’t have them all kiddo!” Sam’s laugh broke through and the other adults turned to see Tasha with both hands in the bowl of candy, while Sam tried to juggle bowl and child without dropping either. Max quickly snapped off a shot while Trish groaned.
“Jeepers Tash, don’t get greedy.”
“Just take one Tasha,” Dennis instructed, reaching out to help Sam. While the men dealt with the typical childhood greed, Max turned back to Trish.
“So what’s the doctor say?”
Trish rolled her eyes. “Same as last time,” Trish groused. “Everything’s okay and the morning sickness should ease up sometime soon. Gah! I was never this sick with Tash.”
“Yeah,” Max chuckled, “and you also weren’t chasing after a toddler for the better part of your waking hours.”
“That’s true,” the other woman conceded. “It’s worth it in the end, though. That's what I keep telling myself.”
“Of course it is,” Max grinned. “Otherwise, the world’s population wouldn’t be what it is.” Trish smiled and then turned to the others to tell her daughter that it was time to leave. The girl gave Sam and then Max, sticky kisses on the cheek and happily headed off with her recently acquired loot. They bypassed a new group of children clambering up the porch steps, kids that Max and Sam knew from around the neighborhood. They dutifully exclaimed over the costumes and chatted with chaperone's as they handed out the candy.
The waves of visitors to the house began to wane just after eight o’clock. Which was just as well since they were nearly out of candy. Max took the opportunity to change, since she had just thrown on a T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants when she’d gotten home from work. And while they were still adamantly against costumes, Max still felt like looking a little better than she currently did. And she knew that it was worth the effort by the way Sam’s eyes glistened with anticipation and the way he trailed after her as she puttered around the house until they were finally ready to leave.
The group had decided on a lounge to meet at. Max threw on her jacket and made sure she had her keys. Since she still wasn’t of a legal age and all their friends knew it, she usually acted as designated driver, but at home it was a different situation. She’d told Sam that with her high metabolism, alcohol affected her much differently. And since their friends had snuck in some underage drinking themselves, they were understanding and even teasing about it. But there was no point in drawing attention to herself in public. Sam locked the front door and pulled it shut behind them. He laced his fingers with hers and they walked together to the car. He released her and moved around to the driver’s side. Max didn’t mind. She always considered the car to be more Sam’s than hers, since he used it so much more, even though it was in both of their names on the lease.
But on the reverse side, Sam was adamant about Max’s bike being hers. She’s given him blanket permission to use it if he needed or wanted. But on the rare occasion that he had indulged, he’d always made sure to run it by her first. As they drove, they commented on the various costumes they saw. Most of the children were off the street by that point in time, but teens and young adults were still roaming around. Some of the costumes were quite ingenious. By the time they arrived at the lounge, all of their friends were already there. And all of them in costume.
“Hey!” Jess pouted. “You didn’t dress up.”
“Told you Jess,” Max grinned as she pulled out a chair to sit at the large table they’d snagged. “Sam and I just aren’t big into Halloween.”
“Says the woman who bought at least twenty bags of candy,” Sam teased.
“Which kept you in midnight snacks for several days,” Max teased right back.
“Hey, those fueled my nightly study sessions,” Sam protested.
“Which got you all hopped up on sugar and climbing the walls,” Max reminded him dryly.
“Yeah, but you didn’t seem to mind all that extra energy,” he taunted with a gleam in his eyes.
“Except when I was trying to sleep!” she retorted. The group chuckled at their banter. Sam squeezed her shoulder.
“Want anything to drink?”
“Soda is fine,” she answered, patting his hand where it still rested. He nodded and moved off, followed by Chuck and Dale. Max turned to regard Jess. “So? Slutty Nurse?”
Jess glanced down at herself. “It’s funnier when Caden and I stand together.”
“Where’s he at?” Max wondered aloud.
Jess' eyes scanned the bar until she found her boyfriend and pointed him out. “There. He’s talking to Tom.” Max followed the direction she was pointing in, seeing Alli’s boyfriend, Tom, dressed as an old fashioned barkeep; which obviously matched Alli’s outfit of a tavern wench.
“Wait!” she started in surprise. “The old man? That’s Caden?” Jess nodded. “Wow, his make-up is excellent!”
“Yeah,” Jess agreed, somewhat gloomily. “A… friend of his from the drama department did it for him.” Max caught the hesitation and glanced from Jess’ averted face to Alli. The other woman gave her a tight smile and a quick, jerky shake of her head.
“A female friend?” Max asked cautiously and quietly as Jess nodded slowly.
“One that he talks to constantly on the phone and meets for drinks a couple times a week,” Jess confirmed.
“Oh Jess,” Max sighed. “I’m sorry.” Jess shrugged awkwardly.
“I don’t think he’s actually cheated on me, yet, but… well, things have kind of gone down hill recently.”
“Have you talked to him about it?” Max asked seriously.
“What’s there to talk about?” Jess answered her friend, sounding miserable.
“Hey!” Max protested. “Don’t go falling into that trap,” she warned. “I mean, look what happened to Sam and I.” Jess ducked her head and blushed, recalling the part she had played in almost breaking up the couple.
“Exactly,” Alli took the chance to jump into the conversation. “There might be a perfectly reasonable explanation for this.”
“And if it’s what I think it it?” Jess demanded archly.
Alli shrugged. “Then you need to clear the air instead of you both being miserable all the time.”
“She’s right,” Max concurred gently. “Don’t do this to yourself.” Jess nodded sadly as both women crowded in closer to her, grateful for the physical, not to mention the emotional support form them.
*****
“What’s up with Jess?” Sam, asked of his friends, watching the scene at their table as he leaned against the bar. They were waiting for someone to get free to take their order.
“Don’t know man,” Chuck shrugged. “I think she and her boy had a fight. They’ve been avoiding each other since they got here.”
“Huh,” Sam grunted and turned around when he saw the waitress out of the corner of his eye. He put in his order to her and the others followed suit.
“Actually,” Dale sighed, “I think it’s more than that.” Sam and Chuck turned to regard him. “I saw Caden the other night. With a girl who wasn’t Jess.” Eyebrows rose and grunts were made. “I didn’t know if I should say anything,” he finished with a shrug.
“Well, judging by that,” Sam gestured at the women sharing hugs and patting Jess’ back, “I’d say that she already knows.” All three men watched for a moment.
“Poor kid,” Dale sympathized. “She shouldn’t have to be with a jerk like that.”
“Yeah, I never liked him anyway,” Chuck grunted.
“Yup,” Sam nodded his agreement thoughtfully. “Jess is way too good for him.” All three leaned back against the bar.
“So what’re we going to do about it?” Dale wondered aloud. “Kick the crap outta him?”
“Egg his truck!” Chuck suggested and Sam laughed.
“I don’t know about you two, but I am going to stay out of it.”
“Wimp!” Chuck taunted.
“Prudent,” Sam corrected. “You really think I’m going to risk getting my butt chewed out by Jess and then by Max, for sticking my nose in?”
“He’s a whipped wimp!” Dale teased.
“I may be whipped,” Sam grinned widely, “but out of the three of us, who’s guaranteed to be going home with a gorgeous woman tonight?”
“I hate you man,” Dale laughed and turned back to the bar to pay for the drinks just delivered. He waved away Sam and Chuck’s money and both thanked him. Sam gathered up his and Max’s drinks. They all headed back to the table, cautious that they weren’t intruding on the female's moment of solidarity. The smiles told them they were again welcome. But instead of taking an empty seat, Dale set Jess’ drink before her and then squatted down next to her.
“Hey Jess?” he grinned.
“Yeah?” she half turned back to face him.
“Can you do me a favor?”
“What’s that?”
“Well, see,” Dale nervously rubbed on finger along the bridge of his nose,” there’s this girl I’ve had my eye on and well…”
“Aw,” Jess cooed, seemingly glad for the distraction from her own problems. “Are you getting all shy again?”
“You know me,” Dale chuckled, ducking his head down. “Anyway, would you dance with me? Kinda get me out there?”
“Sure, no problem,” Jess smiled as she ruffled his hair, took a quick sip of beer and then pushed her chair back. Dale took her hand and led her out to the dance floor. The remaining group watched their progress.
“God, he’s got it bad,” Max sighed.
“You know it,” Alli piped up, leaning forward. “Think she’ll notice finally?”
“It’s possible,” Max shrugged. “But tonight’s not the best time.”
“No, she’s gotta deal first,” Alli nodded her agreement.
“What are you talking about?” Sam asked with a puzzled frown.
“Dale’s crush,” Max announced, reaching for her drink.
“On who?” Sam asked.
“He didn’t say anything!” Chuck cried out at the same time. They both craned their necks, trying to spot the girl who might potentially be Dale’s type while Max and Alli shared a grin with one another.
“Ahem,” Max cleared her throat. “You’re looking in the wrong direction.”
Sam’s eyes started looking the other way. “You know who she is?”
“Well of course we do,” Alli snorted.
“Who?” Chuck demanded, his head also turned around. “Where?”
“He’s dancing with her,” Max informed them smugly. Both male’s eyes snapped back to the couple on the dance floor and then to the women at the table.
“Dale likes Jessica?” Sam demanded in belief.
“No way!” Chuck grunted.
“Are you sure?” Sam grunted as well, looking back to the couple on the dance floor that was laughing about something.
“Of course we’re sure,” Max snorted. “We’ve known for a long time.”
“Wait, how do you know?” Chuck demanded.
Alli wiggled her eyebrows at him. “How does any woman know when a guy is interested?” she countered. Sam and Chuck stared at each other for a moment, both thinking over Dale’s past behavior and the undeniable proof offered there.
“He’s a goner,” Sam laughed.
“Yup,” Chuck agreed gravely and then rapped his knuckles against the table. “Well, I guess I’ll go let Tom in on the plan.” He left before anyone protested and the women turned at once to Sam, who waited patiently for the questions he knew were coming.
“What plan is he talking about?” Max demanded and Sam shrugged.
“Well, Dale saw Caden out with another woman-!”
“The friend,” Max and Alli said together.
“And we didn’t like what it probably meant,” Sam sighed.
“So what did you plan on doing?” Max grimaced. She could just guess at what that might be, but turned out pleasantly surprised.
“Well, we could have done all sorts of nasty things,” Sam grinned, “but without knowing for sure, we decided to just ignore him for now.”
“You mean a freeze out?” Alli asked, amused as Sam nodded. “But I thought you guys liked Caden?”
“He’s okay?” Sam frowned, “but Jess is our friend, not him.”
Chuck returned with Tom in tow, just in time to see both women giving Sam enthusiastic kisses on his cheeks.
*****
“So how’s it going?” Max asked of her friend, several hours later, as she took a seat beside Jess at the bar. “I notice that Caden left.”
“Yep,” Jess confirmed without turning to look at her friend. “He was ‘getting tired’ and ‘not having fun’,” Jess quoted derisively.
“And…?”
“And since I heard him on the phone, making plans to meet her at their bar, well…”
“Ah Jess,” Max sighed. “I’m sorry. Do you want a ride home?”
“Eventually,” Jess decided gloomily. “But first, I intend on getting piss drunk.”
“Okay,” Max smiled sympathetically and caught the bartender’s eye. After they had their drinks refilled, Max sighed again. “Well, maybe it’s better that you found out now, rather than later. You know, before things got really serious.”
“That’s the problem though,” Jess frowned. “I think I was getting serious.”
“Really?” Max asked with some surprise, though she strove to hide it.
“Yeah,” Jess nodded. “I mean, not you and Sam or Alli and Tom serious, but… you know.”
“Yeah,” Max gave her friend a little grin and a gentle nudge from her elbow. “Can’t get much more serious than that.”
“Well, you could,” Jess teased suddenly, her eye brightening for a moment.
“Huh?”
“Oh come on,” Jess snorted. “You mean to tell me that you and Sam have never talked about getting married, having kids, you know? The whole American dream?” Max shrugged. “Seriously?” Jess scoffed.
“Well,” Max squirmed a little at the new subject. “You know, with divorce rates rising all the time, why bother?”
Sam stopped short as he overheard that, his breath rushing from his lungs, leaving him feeling winded. Never once, not in all their time together and especially since he’d made the decision to ask her, did Sam even think that Max might not want to be his wife.
“But jeez!” Jess continued. “You guys have already been together longer than some marriages I know.”
“Exactly!” Max pointed out. “And we didn’t need rings on our fingers to do it.”
“So you’re telling me,” Jess scoffed, “that if Sam proposed…?” Sam held his breath as Jess asked the question he desperately needed an answer for.
“But he hasn’t,” Max pointed out reasonably.
“But if he did,” Jess persisted and she seemed as boggled as Sam was by Max’s opinion on the subject.
“Why are we talking and worrying about something that’s not happening?” Max chuckled. “Sam and I are fine just the way we are.”
“I know,” Jess responded automatically, but gave a disbelieving shake of her head. “But honestly, if Sam walked up to you, right now, dropped down to one knee, handed you a ring and said ‘Max I love you desperately and I want to marry you-!’, … what would you do?”
Max looked down at her drink and fiddled with the tiny neon orange straw.
“Come on!” Jess whined, smacking one hand against the counter top. Sam felt the same inclination as his gut twisted and churned, waiting for her answer. Finally Max wet her lips delicately and gave her friend a shy sort of peeking glance.
“I’d say yes,” she announced in a small voice that Sam had to strain to hear. “In a heartbeat.”
“Ah! I knew it!” Jess crowed as she threw her arms around her friend. Sam’s heart soared and he finally let loose of the jeweler’s box that he’d been carrying around in his pocket since he’d picked it up the day before. Max accepted her friend’s hug, but then pulled back and held up a warning finger.
“But now, not a word,” she directed. “Don’t go running to Sam, trying to plant ideas in his head!”
“I won’t,” Jess promised solemnly through her wide grin.
Sam didn’t bother hiding his. Even though he was tempted to do as Jess had said and propose right here and now, he held himself back. He really didn’t want her thinking that he was proposing just because she had admitted that she wanted it. Of course, having the ring with him would be hopefully, a clear indication that he wasn’t being forced into asking her. But no, Monday was better. The whole romantic setting would be in place and she wouldn’t have any idea, because she had been the one who had planned it all. And if she did happen to believe that Jess had planted the seed, well, he’d just have to show her the date on the receipt from the jewelry store. Feeling immensely relieved, he listened in again to their conversation.
“… kind of wedding would you have?” Jess was asking.
:Oh jeez,” Max laughed. “All respects to the girly arts Jess, but I’m not just the kind to dream about stuff like that.”
“Okay, I know,” Jess laughed. “But still, wouldn’t you love a huge wedding? Like Kara’s? All the music and the flowers…?” Jess sighed, revealing her own sentimentality.
“And all the headaches of scheduling, catering, guests and costs?” Max snorted. “No thanks!”
“So you’d want something simple?” Jess clarified. Max tilted her head to the side and then nodded as Sam systematically filed this information away in his mind.
“Maybe something small and intimate,” Max decided. “You know, just Sam’s family, really close friends, and of course, Molly.”
“Your adopted Grandma?” Jess asked and Max nodded. Sam grinned at that. There was no way they could leave Molly out of the plan. She’d skin them alive if that happened.
“So what kind of dress?” Jess went on.
“Who says I’d wear a dress?” Max scoffed. And suddenly, Sam had the image of them riding off into the sunset in leather chaps on Max’s Ninja. She’d love that.
“Oh please,” Jess scoffed. “You must have pictured some kind of outfits… well maybe not…” Max laughed again. “Okay,” Jess seemed really into the discussion. “So would you go the traditional route?”
“Right,” Max drawled. “Like I’d want to be trussed up in some puffed up tulle explosion! And besides, years too late to be wearing white.”
“I know,” Jess chuckled. “And yeah, you’re not the lacy, poofy type. But- oh! I saw the most gorgeous dress the other day. It was this creamy ivory color, slinky, ankle length gown with spaghetti straps and-!” Jess broke off suddenly and began to giggle.
“What?” Max asked, her lips already twitching in response.
“I’m sorry,” Jess gasped for air. “I just suddenly had this image of you in it and Sam’s so tall…” she broke off, laughing again. Max’s face scrunched up as she tried to discern what was so funny about that.
“Uh huh,” she grunted.
“Sorry,” Jess tittered. “Just… wedding ceremony, cleavage factor, he’d be so totally distracted!”
“I suppose,” Max drawled laconically. “But do you really think I need a white dress and a little cleavage to distract Sam?” Her eyes twinkled as she regarded Jess.
“Oh my God, no!” Jess shrieked and then said more quietly, “believe me, I’ve seen the way he looks at you?”
“And how’s that?” Max grinned.
“Like a cat that’s about to dive into a vat of cream,” Jess laughter was unabated and Max chuckled along with her.
And Sam, having been so happily envisioning Max just as Jess had described her in that wedding dress, decided that now would be a really good time to go home. He approached them, a grin plastered on his face as he beheld his girlfriend, soon to be fiancée. “What’s so funny?” he asked as he stopped at Max’s side.
“Current fashion,” Max replied immediately, which sent Jess off into gales of laughter again.
“Ah,” Sam sighed. “I can see that. I’m still having trouble with past fashion. I mean, like body piercing? I just don’t get it?”
“Who does?” Jess snorted derisively.
“I mean, if it’s culturally significant, then okay,” he continued, “but some of the things people come up with? Kind of stupid.”
“Oh really?” Max asked quietly. “Because I was thinking of getting my belly button pierced.”
“Really?” Jess asked with interest.
“Yeah,” Max enthused, covertly watching Sam’s reaction out of the corner of her eye. She leaned back slightly on her stool, poking at her stomach. “I thought a little diamond or something…”
“Oh, especially with those low-rider jeans you just bought the other day,” Jess enthused. “And a baby T.”
“But if you think it’s stupid,” Max sighed, faking disappointment.
“Well now,” Sam hastily backpedaled. “I meant that… like… uh!” But the girls were already laughing at him. Sam growled and caught Max around the waist, hauling her to him and planting a playful, wet kiss on her neck. “You ready to go?” he whispered huskily into her ear, setting his bottle of beer on the counter.
“Jess needs a ride home,” Max replied, ignoring his more than obvious desire.
“She can go with Tom and Alli,” he countered.
“They already left babe,” she informed him. “Alli’s got a shift tomorrow morning.”
“Jess!” Sam called without looking back at her.
“Yo!”
“You ready to go?”
“Nope!”
“Well get ready,” he told her imperiously and Max began to giggle again as Jess made humorous faces out of his eye line.
“No way,” Jess announced. “I don’t have nearly enough shots in me!”
“We’ll buy you a bottle at the liquor store,” he announced.
“Oh right,” Jess snorted. “Like I really want to sit at home, drinking all by myself. That’s pathetic.” Sam rolled his eyes and Max laid a hand on his chest.
“We also need to give Chuck and Dale a ride,” she reminded him. “I don’t think they should walk home.”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right,” he gave in. Of course, it wasn’t like he and Max wouldn't get home eventually.
“I’ll tell you what,” Max decided. “You go round up those two and I’ll get party girl here ready to go. If they want to keep drinking, they can do it at one of their places. And then just crash when they’re ready. Sound good Jess?” she raised her voice to get her friend’s attention.
“As long as there’s a bottle of tequila somewhere in the deal, then whoo!”
Max shook her head and grinned.
“All right,” Sam conceded, squeezing her hand. He headed off for his appointed task, which actually took very little in the way of convincing, especially on Dale’s part. Soon enough, they had all clambered into Sam and Max’s car. Max, who had already gotten the keys from Sam earlier that evening, climbed into the driver’s seat.
As she pulled on her seat belt, she asked, “so, whose house did you decide on?”
“Yours!” the trio from the back guffawed. At that, Sam thudded his head back against the seat, making a soft, thunking noise.
“My house?” Max chuckled. “Why my house?”
“Spare bed, couches, full fridge,” Dale enumerated.
“Yo, I am not sleepin’ on the floor tonight!” Chuck added.
“All right,” Max agreed amicably as she started the engine and threw a twinkling, impish grin at Sam. “Going rate for the bed is a hundred dollars per night, couches are seventy-five. Make your own arrangements. Cash only by the way. Food is charged by the pound. And if anyone pukes anywhere but the toilet bowl, and I do mean anywhere else, that person or persons will be cleaning my house for the next month!”
“Uh,” Chuck stuttered out, “on second thought…” Sam laughed at how neatly she’d routed their drunken antics.
“You know,” he pointed out,” Chuck’s place is closest to the liquor store.” That statement struck them all as funny.
“All right,” Chuck conceded. “Ignore the mess and you guys get the floor.”
“Who says we plan on sleeping,” Jess retorted, a little indignant. The merriment continued as Max drove. She and Sam pretty much ignored the others, holding hands as she guided the car through the streets. She eventually pulled into the parking lot of the liquor store.
“What do you guys want?” Sam asked as he prepared to open his door. It was agreed upon that, as the most sober person, aside from Max, he should be the one to make the purchase.
“Jim!”
“Jack!”
“Jose!” came the three different answers.
Sam chuckled and shook his head. “Pick one.”
“Sa-aam!” Jess pouted. “We each need our own bottle!”
“You get one and be thankful for it,” he warned good-naturedly and climbed out of the car.
He returned in short order with a brown bag that he settled between his feet. He got himself settled and Max headed the car towards Chuck’s place. They were there in a few minutes and after raucous good nights and Jess’ promise to call Max the next day or so, they disappeared into the apartment building.
“So?” Max asked quietly. “Home?”
“Yes please,” Sam, stroked his thumb along the back of her hand. But instead of pulling it away to manipulate the gears, Max reached across with her left hand to put the car into gear again. She drove fairly slowly, aware that plenty of drunk college students and other partiers might still be out and about. But Sam didn’t mind, now that he had her all to himself again. He did release her once they arrived home, so that she could park. He climbed out of the car once it was off and waited for her on the sidewalk. They walked to the house together, Sam leaning upon it as he waited for Max to unlock and open the door. She let them in, then shut it and locked it once more and then switched off the porch light.
“Come here,” Sam murmured quietly, pulling her into an embrace. She went readily, lifting her face as his mouth descended to hers. He brushed his lips slowly across hers until he felt the tip of her tongue dart out and let out a soft groan. “God, I love you so much,” he whispered.
“I love you too Sam,” she replied, her voice soft and bemused. “Take me to bed?”
“Gladly,” he sighed, leaning down to catch her legs behind her knees.
“Sam!” she laughingly protested as he straightened with her firmly in his arms. “What are you doing?”
“Precisely what you asked,” he grunted as he carried her down the hallway. She quickly reached down from her perch and turned the knob to the bedroom door, opening it for him. “Always a helping hand,” Sam teased.
“I just didn’t want to be dropped,” she giggled.
“Hey!” Sam protested, giving her a little shake. “I may not have super strength or amazing agility, but I think I can manage.”
“I may be all that,” Max smiled as she stroked his cheek with her free hand, “but kiss me again and you’ll see me unbalanced.”
“Somehow I doubt that,” Sam teased as he carried her to the bed.
“You just don’t know your own strength, Sam,” she told him seriously. In response, he pressed his mouth to hers and their lips parted. He lowered the arm that held her legs and she slowly slid down until her feet came to rest on the floor. She drew his hands to her waist and ran her hands up the length of his arms. Max pulled at his shoulders and Sam hunched forward resting his hands into the small indentation in her lower back.
He pulled her lower half closer to his own, content to take things slow. Max seemed of the same mind as she gently pulled his T-shirt from the waistband of his jeans and let her fingertips creep under the material, to then smooth their way over the musculature of his back. Sam inhaled deeply as she massaged the flesh along his ribs.
“That feels good,” he murmured against her cheek.
“Mm hmm,” she sighed, contented, deepening the pressure slightly. He swayed against her, more from the headiness of arousal, than from the alcohol he’d imbibed that night. His thumbs stole under the hem of her shirt as it rode up from her extending her arms to reach his shoulders. He sighed again, leaning his forehead against her shoulder as he relaxed under her nimble touch. He wondered suddenly how long it had been since he had returned the favor. Probably too long, if he was having to think about it.
With a lazy grin, he tugged the hem of her shirt upwards. On realizing what he wanted, she pulled her hands free of his clothes and moved to help him. But as she was dealing with that, Sam’s hands dropped back to the waistband of her jeans. He unsnapped them and then pulled the zipper tab down. Max threw her shirt to the floor and reached for his. Sam patiently allowed it, letting her pull the shirt off him like a child, before he caught her face gently between his hands.
He glanced a soft kiss on her forehead before whispering, “go ahead and get undressed. I’ll be right back.” He kissed her nose, smiling at the slightly puzzled look and then let her loose.
Max watched his retreating back as he exited the bedroom, wondering what he was up to. She continued to disrobe, leaving her clothes in a small pile out of the way as she heard him move into the bathroom. She moved to the dresser and removed the shorts and camisole sleep set that she had bought the past summer, to throw on later. She heard him move from the bathroom on into the kitchen and she smiled as she tried to figure out if it were natural urges calling to him or he had something different in mind. Max laid the nightclothes at the foot of the bed on her side. She debated for just a moment about climbing under the covers, but, not knowing what Sam planned on doing, decided against it.
Instead she climbed up on to the bed at the top, relaxing semi-upright against the mound of pillows. She drew her legs up halfway, resting one ankle on the other and wrapped her arms loosely about herself, unconsciously plumping up her breasts a little more. She frowned when she heard their microwave beeping. Perhaps Sam had actually developed the munchies. A familiar scent tickled her nose, though she could tell that it wasn’t food.
Sam reappeared a few moments later. He had divested himself of his clothes, hopefully in the bathroom, though he did still wear his boxer briefs. He carried with him one of the large bath towels and what Max now recognized as her honey and almond body lotion.
“You’re not distracting me tonight,” he warned her with a chuckle.
“And how am I being distracting?” she asked archly in a low voice.
“By being so irresistibly sexy.” He waggled his eyebrows at her while his eyes raked over her form.
Max glanced down at herself and moved her arms with a laugh. “Sorry,” she smiled. “It just comes naturally.”
“That’s what makes it so irresistible,” Sam announced as he sat at the foot of the bed. He turned himself around so that he was sitting cross legged, facing her.
“And if that’s true,” she teased, “then what are you doing all the way down there?”
“Thinking that after the long hard week that you put in at the gym, a little relaxation would be appreciated,” he answered as he placed the towel across his lap and then reached for her foot. Max scooted down a little so that she wouldn’t have to stretch too far.
“That actually sounds really good,” she groaned as Sam ran one thumb over the arch of her left foot. With his other hand, he shook up the bottle of lotion.
“This’ll be warm,” he warned as he poured out a generous dollop.
“I heard the microwave,” Max nodded and her eyes closed as the lotion, and a delightful warmth, spread over her foot. And then his large, strong hands joined in.
“I wasn’t sure that I could,” Sam told her as he exerted pressure through her foot, “but it didn’t blow up, so I guess we’re okay.”
“Better than okay,” Max groaned. Sam grinned, pleased at her reaction. He let his imagination take over, remembering all the places that Max had concentrated on when she’d rub his feet. Imagining what would feel good for her. He stroked up over her ankle, urged on by her breathy moans, remembering how his calves would ache after intense workouts. Of course, her body was more conditioned than his, but it still must have felt good, judging this by the way she was melting across the bed.
He let her foot loose and began to work on the other one and her reaction was the same. She sprawled laconically across the covers, her toes flexing as he hit certain sore spots and Sam tenderly kept at it until the lotion was absorbed and Max was nearly asleep. Carefully moving her feet from his lap, he pulled the towel up and laid it full out alongside of her.
“Feel good?” he asked softly, kneeling beside her.
“Mm hmm,” she fairly purred and Sam chuckled softly.
“Well, roll over here kitty and I’ll do your back,” he instructed gently. Her eyes popped open and a soft smile touched her lips.
“I’d call you an angel,” she told him, as she rolled over onto her stomach, “but that’s just not a wonderful enough thing to call you.”
Pleased, he placed a kiss at her temple as she pushed her arms under the pillow her head rested on. Sam reached for the lotion again. It had cooled some more so he poured it into his hand, rubbing it between his palms, warming it with friction before he applied it to her back. His fingers moved all over, from her lower back to her shoulders. Tracing the indented curve of her spine, the lines of her ribs, he caressed it all. And when he was finished, he was near transfixed by the delighted smile on her lips. He set the bottle of lotion on the nightstand and laid himself down beside her.
“Relaxed?” he whispered.
“Boneless,” she mumbled back, her eyes opening just a scant bit. “Thank you sweetheart.”
“You’re very welcome,” he answered solemnly.
Max moved one arm and reached for his hand, resting at her waist. She drew it up to her face, turning on her side as she regarded it. She stroked the palm with her thumb and murmured lowly, “such wonderful hands.”
Sam watched, lips parted, his heart thrumming as she placed a soft kiss against his palm. Her face turned up to his and another kiss whispered against his jaw. “Such lovely everything,” she spoke against his skin.
“Only because you inspire me,” he whispered back, slightly choked up by the enormity of tenderness welling within his chest.
“Can I inspire you to touch me Sam?” she moaned throatily.
As if he’d been waiting for those very words, Sam scooped her closer. His lips captured hers, tongue delving to taste her. Max’s hands rested on his chest as she molded the rest of her body to his. Sam slid his hand along her back, down to her hip, holding her closely. She swiveled her hips against him, her body flushed with desire. Sam wanted to touch her all over anew and hardly knew where to begin. Max had ideas of her own as her hands drifted lower, skimming over his sides, slipping under the waistband of his underwear. Sam pulled back slightly, breaking their kiss as he cupped a breast, lifting it, trailing kisses along her golden skin to it. His lips found her budded nipple just as she stroked his erection.
They groaned together, need for one another urging them onward. Sam blew a soft breath over her skin again and again, barely touching her, making her skin tauten and tingle. She wriggled against him, a silent entreaty, but Sam ignored it for the moment as he nudged her to her back. He followed after her, looming above her, his legs tangling together with hers. Max’s hands trailed along his sides once more, but this time intent with purpose. She pushed at the briefs that were the only barrier between them, carefully pulling the cotton away from his erection.
Sam smiled at the gentle touch of her hands, soft and delicate. He helped her push the underwear away, kicking them off his legs with quick movements. And the moment that was accomplished, he slowed back to the languid movements of earlier. There was no rush, just an easy swelling that would ultimately be sated, just as it always was. Sam moved into the cradle of Max’s thighs, resting against her. Her hips moved enticingly under his and Sam lowered his lips to her shoulder, peppering kisses along it, across her collar bone to the other shoulder as her neck arched for him. She laughed low in her throat, realizing what his new game was and she waited with anticipation to see where he would go next.
He followed the path of her arm, nibbling slightly at the sensitive skin inside her elbow. Inhaling the rich scent of her body lotion, he moved across her stomach. He slowed and gently laved a circle around her navel, causing her to shiver slightly. Still working his lips across her pliant flesh, he glanced up at her. With her chin tucked low against her chest, her eyes glistening as she watched him, her face was placid, as if she knew every innermost thought that was running through his mind. He fought the grin that was threatening his face, thinking of her ring, to know that there were some things she just had no clue about. And while they may have been thinking along similar lines, it was still worlds apart.
But it wouldn’t be much longer now, Sam exulted as he drew himself up along her body. She welcomed him with her hands, her mouth, her entire being and with the sensation as if they’d been parted forever, Sam slid home in a long, deep, slow thrust. Max lifted her hips to meet him, her legs rising to encircle his waist. She moaned softly as he pulled back to thrust in again. She tangled one hand in his hair, pulling his head down to hers. Sam’s tongue swept through her mouth, moving as gently as he could, probing her taste as he continued to move into her.
He swiveled his hips in a figure eight motion, taking his time as Max gasped beneath him. He pulled back, poised at the threshold of her opening, waiting until she tried to entice him back, his lower lip caught between her teeth as she tugged gently. When her hips jerked a little under his, he moved slightly, teasingly, shallow thrusts in and out. At her frustrated groan that was tinted with the pleasure of his knowledge of her body, Sam pushed all the way in again with a powerful, welcomed stroke. He pulled back immediately to begin the process again.
As he teased again with slow, sure movements, he wondered how long he could keep this divine torture going. He thrust deeply several times, feeling more than hearing her whispered words of encouragement. Her voice grew strained and he could feel muscles fluttering along her passage. He caught a rosy nipple between his teeth, his tongue flicking rapidly over it as he pushed up slightly, running his cock at a different angle, along her clit as he thrust shallowly again.
Max clenched convulsively at him, every muscle in her body taut as her need poured through her. Sam waited until it was almost painful, until he felt her orgasming and then thrust as hard as he could into her channel. She came apart for him and Sam gloried in the joyful abandonment on her face and in her eyes, staring at him, memorizing again the features she loved, so deeply and well. And when the flutters had subsided, his teeth grinding slightly, their bodies slick with perspiration, he began again.
Shallow thrusts into her body, through this time, his lips found hers. A long thrust and he found himself lost to the clamoring of his own body. He pushed deeply as her hips still rose to meet his. Sam’s hands ducked underneath her slightly arched back, curling around her shoulders, driving himself into her with all the passion he had in him. Amazingly soon after the first orgasm, her second came as Sam tried to hold himself back, needing to be one with her completely. Max seemed to understand that wholly as she latched her mouth to his throat, sucking greedily at his skin, clenching her vaginal muscles around his twitching cock.
He gasped her name as sensation rippled along the sensitive ridge of his penis. Her response was to tighten her hold on him, moaning deeply in her throat as his orgasm tearing through him set off another of hers. His hips jerked against hers, everything so powerfully felt at that moment, so deep that it threatened to overwhelm. But gradually, he was able to come down from the euphoric high he’d lost himself in, to see her face smiling tenderly up at him, tears glistening in her eyes. He moved his right hand, still curled about her shoulders, to instead curve and cup her cheek as she rubbed against it.
“Sweetheart,” he began softly, “I-!”
“That ocean of love?” she broke in with a tremulous voice. “It just keeps growing, doesn’t it?”
Sam’s thumb stroked across her cheekbone, catching a stray tear. “Forever wouldn’t be anywhere near long enough,” he whispered back, “to show you just how much I love you.”
RTD24- The Walls Tumble Down
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