Accident Prone

Liz saw that Max is still looking at her with insecurity, and she explained: "I am sorry if my words got you upset. That was not my intention. Me getting on the radar of a guy from whom you stole girlfriends and the possibility that he is after me in order to get back at you is… unsettling. But no matter how uncomfortable this is, I need to know everything. Is there anything else I should know?"

Max exhaled. "You mentioned that Tyler got the information about you from someone. That means this is bigger than Tyler. There is a network of people who collect information related to prominent individuals in the area. They earn a living by exchanging that information and Tyler is part of that network."

Liz's frown indicated to Max that she does not understand.

"Allow me to explain this phenomenon with an example…", Max paused and repeated few times that he should not use himself as an example. He went with the next best thing: "Hunter is known as an eligible bachelor. He has a good background, and a promising future. There is a number of women who are interested in becoming Mrs. Hunter Anderson, and they are willing to pay to find out details about his personal life. They will use that information to approach Hunter with a goal to get his attention. It's a web of people who would stalk him in order to find out any interesting fact and sell it to the highest bidder. Other than selling information, there are betting polls about anything from where he will go out next to what is his favorite color. News that Hunter is serious about Mia and that they are living together will be extremely valuable. If anyone gets their hands on the address of their apartment… that can be worth tens of thousands."

Liz's eyes darted aimlessly while she processed all this information.

Maybe Max used Hunter as an example, but as soon as Max mentioned betting polls, she remembered the website with voting on what hair color Max's next date will have and the location of his next date. But Liz didn't want to call Max out on that because she promised to herself that as long as he is behaving, she can ignore his past… even though it is creeping in and hitting her from the back when she does not expects it.

Liz reminded herself to stay on the topic. "Tyler said that the information on me was not free and that Suzy is a greedy woman. That means that Suzy is one of those information dealers and she took money or something else from Tyler in exchange of revealing my identity. Do you know who she is?"

Max shrugged. "Maybe if there is a last name we can look her up, but with just 'Suzy'… it's a common name, and probably a nickname." Max sighed. "Liz, I am really sorry."

"Why are you sorry again?"

"They would not collect your information if it's not for me.", Max stated the obvious.

"I don't blame you. I am only concerned if this will affect my job… and honestly, I have no idea how to deal with this.", Liz said while rubbing her forehead.

Liz thought of something and got her phone. She searched Max's name online and paused. She refreshed the results few times before looking at Max. "Uhm… there was number of websites about you… with women. One even had our photo there." Liz observed that left side of Max's lips was lifting up into a smile and she realized: "You cleaned it up."

Max didn't deny it. "I didn't want to risk our photo ending up online and you leaving for New York again, and the only way was to hire a professional do handle it."

Liz was touched that he did that for her. She leaned closer and kissed him on the lips.

"Thank you.", she said softly.

Max smiled sadly and leaned his forehead on hers. "I am sorry that my past is getting between us."

Liz felt that her heart cracked. Max is nice and kind and he even hired someone to clean up the trash from his past on the internet. For her.

She straightened her back and looked into his eyes with confidence while declaring: "No one can come in-between us, not unless we allow it to happen."

Max looked at Liz in amazement. He thought that she is about to blame him for Tyler disturbing her work, but it seems that she has no intention of doing so.

Liz smiled. "I wanted to look up contributors on your sites because that 'Suzy' must be among them if she is selling information to a guy like Tyler. But now that the sites are down, I guess it does not matter. Actually, even if I find her, that does not mean that other people like Suzy don't exist."

Liz cradled Max's cheeks with his palms and looked into his deep blue eyes while explaining: "Those meddling people are bringing us together because it is us against them."

A bright smile bloomed on Max's face and he pulled Liz to sit in his lap. "I will call Tyler and thank him for bringing us closer together."

Liz stifled a laugh and leaned into his embrace. "Max, I already told you that I accept your past and I will judge you only based on how you treat me now, and in the future. I hope that you remember this so that next time you are not insecure."

"Next time?"

Liz nodded in confirmation. "Just how you offended Tyler in the past and he sees me as a way to get his revenge, I am sure that I offended some people before I met you as well. There is a chance that they will see spoiling our relationship as a way to get back at me. People will try to get in-between us for various reasons, but they can't succeed if our bond is solid."

Max exhaled in relief and tightened his hold on Liz. "I am concerned that he showed up at your work."

"Me too.", Liz admitted. "I hope that he learned his lesson and that he will not try such a stunt again. But if he does… I will handle it as I go."

"We will handle it.", Max reminded her. "It's us against them."

"Mhm…", Liz hummed in agreement and leaned her head in the crook of his neck. "Now that we are dating, we are a team. And whoever comes after you or me will need to face the both of us."

Max felt excitement swell inside him due to her words. They are a team!

Liz's breath tickled Max's neck, and he became aware that she is sitting in his lap, and her sweet scent is filling his nostrils… and a certain part of his body was reacting.

He cleared his throat. "I'm still in my office clothes. Will you help me change?"

Liz hopped from his lap and took his hand in hers.

"Sure. I am happy to help. You are my patient… How is your back? … ", Liz asked while leading the way into the bedroom, unaware that the wolf whose hand she is holding onto is undressing her with his eyes.

In the bedroom…

Liz was almost done with undoing the buttons of his shirt, when she found herself on the bed with Max pressing her down.

"Max! Your back!", she exclaimed.

"My back is fine. I want my dessert before dinner.", he whispered into her lips before claiming them with his in a hot kiss which made her mind spin.

"The food will get cold…", Liz breathed when she felt his hands working their way toward the buckles of her bra.

"It's already cold. We will reheat it.", he murmured in her neck.

"Max… Ah…", she struggled to form any words. Why is his hand inside her panties? Wasn't he working on her bra a second ago? Did she space out?

Later that evening…

Max and Liz ate reheated dinner and they didn't mind. It was still tasty and filled their stomachs.

After clearing the table, they snuggled on the sofa with the TV on, but neither of them paid attention to the show which was on.

Max was thinking about Tyler and all those gossipers and how to deal with them. At this point, he has no idea how tackle that problem, and he thought of calling Hunter and Quentin. The two of them always have some good pointers.

Liz was thinking about their steamy foreplay before dinner. They touched, and kissed everywhere, but again… they didn't go all the way.

"Max?", Liz called.

"Hmm?"

"When are we going to… make love?"

Max looked at her red face and he admired that she can ask him that despite her embarrassment. This is his no-nonsense Elizabeth, right here, in his arms.

"When are you going to admit that you love me?", he answered with a question.

"You never said that you love me either.", Liz stated the fact.

"Not in those words. But there are many ways to say that you love someone without actually saying it."

Liz paused. "So… what if I told you and you didn't get it?"

"When you say it, and you mean it, the other person gets it."

"Uhm… this is confusing."

Max caressed her jaw gently and spoke into her lips: "You are almost there, my cute girlfriend… almost there. You just need to show one small bit of sincerity and I will reward you with a night you will never forget in your life."

Liz was speechless. "Why are you making it sound like it's a reward?"

Max winked playfully. "You will get an answer to that question on the morning after."

Liz's mouth opened few times, but no words came out. From where is that confidence coming from? Isn't he the playboy and she should be defending herself against him? Why is this sounding like she is begging him to sleep with her? But… now she is even more curious.

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