Accident Prone

Liz entered the room and exhaled in relief when she closed the door behind her.

"Safe!", she told herself before going to the bedroom to check on Max. Is he still sleeping?

Just as Liz peeked into the bedroom and confirmed that Max is not in the bed, the bathroom door opened, and Max walked out.

Based on his damp hair, Liz concluded that he took a shower. But… is it necessary to wear only bermuda shorts? Why doesn't he cover up that toned torso?

Max paused at the sight of Liz staring at him and smirked. Yup, he has that effect on the ladies and he is more than happy that Liz approves of his looks.

"Thanks for leaving me a note.", Max said while walking toward Liz. "I was worried when I woke up without you by my side. How was the garden?"

He saw that Liz is not responding and decided to tease her. In few swift steps he was in front of her, lifting her up. He fell on the bed with Liz in his arms.

"Ah! What are you doing?", Liz exclaimed when she felt his face rubbing on her neck.

He just shaved and she will end up with the scent of his aftershave on her! Liz tried squirming away, but his hold on her was firm.

"I'm making up for missed morning cuddles.", he responded matter-of-factly and continued rubbing his face.

Liz thought how he is silly. Well, they do cuddle in the morning, and it's her fault for sneaking out early.

She wanted to hug him, but when she touched his skin, her hands jerked back like she got burned. Liz scolded herself: why is she making a big deal of hugging him without a t-shirt? It's just a piece of fabric, for crying out loud! She is a medical worker and she touched plenty of skin! And more than that, as an experienced surgeon she touched inside skin as well! She forced her hands back.

Max stiffened when he felt Liz's warm palms holding onto his back firmly. He thought of teasing her, why did it suddenly become so intimate? And it's not even breakfast time…

He cleared his throat. "You didn't answer my question."

"What question?"

"How was the garden?"

Max narrowed his eyes and observed that Liz is avoiding his gaze. "Did something happen?"

Liz cursed herself internally. She needs to work on her poker face. Max is too good in reading her mood. But, how can she tell him that a man just hit on her shamelessly?

"The garden is fine. Nothing happened that should worry you."

His handsome eyebrow arched suspiciously. "Reeeeaaaaly?"

Liz nodded fervently while confirming. "Yes, yes. I am just flustered because my handsome boyfriend is topless and hugging me in the bed."

Max smiled while thinking that he likes to hear Liz speaking this openly about her… Wait! This is a red flag because Liz never speaks this openly about her feelings. Something happened in that garden!

Liz can see that Max's smile is still on, but it's different… and she was confident that he saw through her lie how nothing happened in the garden. It's a white lie! Just a little bit, to avoid trouble! Ah, he is going to ask more questions and she will be forced to say more lies or to admit that she lied in the first place… She needs a diversion!

Liz hugged him tighter and kissed his neck. Once, twice…

Max closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Liz…"

"As your girlfriend, I get to kiss you whenever I feel like it. And I feel like it!", she proclaimed and continued trailing kisses on his neck.

Max told himself to cool off. He can take this without losing his composure, after all, he is not a teenager. He chanted in his mind that the first time needs to be special and how is this special? They need to go for a breakfast soon… or do they? Max's willpower cracked when he felt Liz's teeth on his neck and after few light bites, she started sucking… Oh, God!

"Elizabeth…", he growled. "Don't start something we can't finish."

Liz didn't hear him. She was too deep in her thoughts. She wanted to distract him, but why is she the one getting distracted? Her hands roamed over the firm landscape of his back, and she felt that his heat is rising… or is that her heat? She was not confident from where this emotional overload is coming, and she wondered why is her breathing speeding up?

Liz felt that Max's grip on her increased, and his breath was heavier, and it was a newly found power she has over him… she likes it.

Just as she finished her sassy thought, Max reached for her chin, tipping her head higher and his scorching kiss landed on her unsuspecting lips.

Liz inhaled a choppy breath when a realization hit her: she has the power to start this crazy ride, but… where are the breaks?

Liz was not pleased when she acknowledged that the non-fun Elizabeth re-appeared and is thinking about breaks! Didn't she leave her in Seattle? She is here to relax and have fun with her handsome boyfriend, and that does not include breaks! Yes, that is right… she just needs to relax and enjoy the ride and not worry about breaks or anything else outside this bedroom because Max knows what he is doing, and he is in the driver's seat.

Liz was surprised when Max jumped off the bed while cursing under his breath.

"I'm going to shower!", he exclaimed and slammed the bathroom door behind him without looking back.

…

After a not-so-nice but a much needed cold shower, Max found Liz in the living area, sitting stiffly on the sofa.

"We need to talk.", she said sternly.

He scratched the back of his head awkwardly and took a seat next to her.

"Why did you leave?", Liz asked.

Max pinched the roof of his nose while wondering, how did he find himself in this situation? Why is he taking a cold shower when there is an alluring woman in the bed clinging onto him? Shit! Elizabeth changed him so much that he can't recognize himself.

"Liz, we are not kids. I understand that you are curious, but this is something that should not be done in a spur of the moment."

"I see.", Liz said irritably. "Since you are the expert here, tell me. How it should be done?"

Max can see that she is upset, and he reached to hold her hands, but she slapped them away. Her eyebrows shoot up, telling him that she is expecting an answer.

"Elizabeth…", Max sighed. "Don't think that I am avoiding it. I just want it to be special."

"Define special.", she demanded.

"I don't know… romantic. Don't you feel that this is rushed?"

Liz gave him a disapproving side-glance. "How about… Saturday. Two weeks from now, 10 PM. Or is that rushed also? If we plan it two weeks in advance then you can't call it a spur of the moment. Or do you need a month or two heads-up so that you can fit it into your busy schedule?"

Max looked at her grumpy face and burst into a hearty laugh.

His arms stretched toward her, and this time Max didn't give Liz opportunity to slap him away. He pulled her to sit in his lap.

"I didn't realize that you are so eager to roll in the sheets with me.", he said teasingly.

"Why are you making it sound like I am the only one interested?"

Max was amused that she didn't deny it, or even try to diminish his statement. But then… this is his no-nonsense Elizabeth who speaks her mind.

He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "I am very interested. When I said that it's rushed, I didn't think about the time. I was referring to the steps which you want to skip."

Liz's displeasure faded in a second and it was replaced with curiosity. "What steps?"

Liz wanted to erase that cocky smirk from his face, but she also wanted him to answer her question, so she controlled her temper.

Max inched closer and pecked her lips once, twice, like he is silently asking for a permission to proceed.

Liz relaxed her shoulders and moved her hands around his neck. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of his lips against hers and his tongue expertly made its way inside her mouth, stealing her breath away in the process.

Liz gripped his shoulders while trying to steady herself, even though Max was holding her firmly and she knew that he will not let go.

Slowly, his tongue teased hers, asking her to join in the dance and she was unable to refuse the seductive invitation even if she wanted to. The world faded as their flavors mixed and they breathed together as one.

Max inched away and ended their first deep kiss with few short ones and Liz was not sure how long it lasted, but she knew that it was not long enough.

She rested her head on his shoulder while trying to calm her ragged breathing and she was holding onto him tightly because the whole room was still spinning.

Max cradled Liz in his arms, marveling the intensity of feelings which she invokes in him. He kissed her forehead before tightening his hold on her and he smiled, satisfied that he was able not to rush because he wants to enjoy every small step they make, knowing that this journey is special for her as well.

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