“Liz?” he asked, touching her arm and turning her around gently.

Liz smiled brightly and lightly caressed his strong muscular arm. “ I’m okay Max. Just a little sore.” She blushed and looked down.

Max sucked in his breath. He had hurt Liz! He didn’t like knowing that Liz had to be in pain because of him.

Liz saw the regret flash through Max’s eyes and then he pulled her close to him, looked down into her face, and slid a hand between her legs.

Liz gasped from Max’s touch. It would always be electric. She melted against him for a minute and then realized what he was trying to do.

“Max! Not here. We could be seen!” Max had wanted to heal her! Liz’s heart swelled even more for the gentle soul Max possessed.

Max pulled back realizing where they were and sighed. Then shook his head to clear it.

“You’re right. Sorry. I wasn’t thinking of anything but…”

“My comfort.” Liz finished gently and cupped Max’s face with her hand.

“I love you Max. And I’m fine. This is a normal thing for a woman to go through. It won’t last long. And besides, I like the reminder.” Liz smiled up into his eyes.

“It reminds me of WHY it’s a bit uncomfortable.” She whispered.

Now Max blushed, and grinned. He still didn’t like the idea of her hurting though. For any reason! Making a decision, he lifted her up in his arms and cradled her against him.

“Max!” Liz exclaimed and met his smiling eyes.

“You gonna argue about this too Liz Parker?” He asked with a teasing glint.

Liz shook her head and laughed. Max was holding her, with no effort what so ever, to him, and she could feel his muscles ripple all around her. She was warm and safe in Max’s arms. If it made him happy to do this for her, she wasn’t going to say no to such a chivalrous, romantic act.

She snuggled her face into Max’s chest and let him carry her up the steep stairs. She just smiled as she inhaled the scents of Max’s warm body and felt the play of each muscle as he moved, and the ease with which he carried her.

Max put Liz down as the reached the front of the hotel, and took her hand as they walked across the quiet lobby, and to the deserted elevators.

Max unlocked the door to his room quietly, knowing the two rooms the gang shared, were open to each other. The three girls had the adjoining room, and they had all silently agreed to leave the door open between the two rooms.

They heard the TV and saw the glow from the other room as they entered through the door in the boys’ room.

They walked to the entrance between the doors and looked in.

The two double beds in the girls’ room were occupied. Isabel and Alex were cuddled up on one bed, and Michael and Maria were on the other. All four looked like they had fallen asleep watching TV together.

Max smiled even wider and headed back into the adjoining room, leaving the door open still between the rooms. He just wanted to hold Liz the rest of the night himself.

Liz grabbed her bag she still hadn’t completely unpacked, and followed Max into the other room.

Liz went into the bathroom, showered off the sand, smiling and blushing at the crazy places she found it. Then with a towel wrapped around her, she came out of the bathroom, grabbed her t-shirt and shorts that she slept in, and her toothbrush.

Max gave her a hot look as she came back into the room. He was leaning back on one of the beds in the guys’ room, flipping channels, waiting for his turn in the bathroom. He hadn’t expected to see Liz come out in just a towel, but then, he had seen her in less, just an hour ago.

He knew if he had gone to her then, to kiss her soft smelling clean skin like he wanted to, they’d end up doing more than sleeping in his bed. So he stayed where he was, and his eyes followed Liz as she walked back into the bathroom leaving the door open, to let the steam out so it would clear the mirrors.

Liz brushed her teeth, washed her face and then looked up. She could see Max standing in the doorway of the open bathroom just watching in fascination.

Liz looked in the mirror to see if she had something on her face, then back at Max. “What?” she asked.

Max grinned and blushed at having been caught watching Liz do her nightly routine. But it just amazed him to watch her do the little intimate things like getting ready for bed.

Liz realized this without Max having to say anything. She too realized that they were seeing sides of each other than most couples didn’t see for many years. She smiled and moved aside for him to come in.

Max reached for his toothbrush and then paused as he met her gaze in the mirror.

Liz raised an eyebrow. “I’m not leaving either.” She smiled.

Max grinned and nodded. He didn’t mind. He liked having Liz close.

He watched Liz reach for some kind of cream and she smoothed it onto her face as he brushed his teeth.

He enjoyed watching Liz smooth on lotion all over her, and swallowed when she lifted a leg onto the closed toilet seat, and ran the lotion up her leg.

Liz was sneaking glances at Max as he brushed his teeth, as well. She couldn’t help but find it sexy to watch him just leaning over the sink and spitting toothpaste into it. She knew she was loosing it big time!

When she looked over again, Max just had the toothbrush sticking out of his mouth, forgotten, as his eyes followed the path her hands were taking up her leg.

Liz put her leg down and blushed. She didn’t know why she felt shy, considering what they had done on the beach, but this just seemed more private, this intimate routine of getting ready for bed.

Max saw her blush, and shook his head and concentrated on finishing brushing his teeth. It had never taken him so long before. He grinned as he reminded himself, he had never had Liz smoothing lotion all over herself two feet from him in nothing but a towel before either.

Liz walked around Max and gave him a smile, knowing that the two of them were really enjoying this simple time together.

Liz left the room as Max turned on the shower. He had given her a look like he wanted to ask her to join him, but then he hadn’t. She knew without him saying it, that he was worried about her being sore, and the others right on the other side of the open door. She smiled as she took off the towel and slipped into her sleep clothes. She pulled the covers down on the bed Max had been sitting on, and slide between the sheets, and just relaxed, listening to the sound of the shower, and imagined Max in the shower washing that sexy body of his. She sighed and started to get up. So what if everyone was only right next-door.

But as she threw her leg over the bed, she winced. Okay. So maybe she was a little too sore, she smiled ruefully at herself and got back under the covers and sighed.

A minute later, Max came out of the bathroom, surrounded by steam, and in nothing but a towel, himself.

Liz couldn’t help but follow him with her eyes, as he crossed the room and reached for his boxers to sleep in.

Max started to go back into the bathroom, but saw the disappointment in Liz’s eyes, and realized there wasn’t anything she hadn’t seen. He grinned, and dropped the towel.

Liz’s eyes wandered over him in total approval and when she finally reached his eyes, she saw the returned passion in Max’s own eyes.

“Max…” Liz whispered.

Max slid his boxers on and came over to Liz. He sat on the bed and cupped her face in his hand.

“I love you Liz, but I’m just going to hold you the rest of the night.” He told her, and himself.

Liz sighed but nodded. He was right. The others were right next-door, and she was sore. Besides, just being in Max’s arms the rest of the night was enough for her. She smiled and moved over, making room for Max.

He snapped off the light by the bed, and lifting the covers, he slid in with her. The light from the TV in the other room let him see enough of Liz to see she was on her side facing him. He reached for her and she sighed again in contentment, and snuggled to get closer to him and lean her head on his chest. She winced again and smiled. At least she had a reminder of the fact that Max had been a part of her.

Then she felt Max’s hand sliding down between them, until he found the center of her. Liz gave him access, and looked up into his eyes. She knew he would not sleep until he knew she was not hurting. She met his eyes; hers filled with love, and let him do the healing he had to do.

She missed his hand, when he removed it from between her legs, and pulled her closer, wrapping both his arms around her.

But then the comfort of Max’s heat and arms around her made her sleepy and she fell asleep smiling at how right it felt just being in Max Evans’ arms.

*************************

He stood outside their hotel door with his fists clenched at his sides. He had followed them up here, and it had taken every ounce of control he had, not to make them pay now. But as soon as they were back in Roswell… he would make his move. He would finally get rid of Max Evans, and now he would make Liz pay too, for her wicked ways.