~ Seattle, Continental Views building ~Tuesday
8:56 PM
Max and Liz got in Liz"s apartment.
Due to all the stress, Liz is super clingy. Max"s proximity makes her feel at ease, and there is nothing better than sinking into his embrace but there is one thing…
"You smell of blood.", Liz said while scrunching her nose.
Max paused. He washed his hands and he didn"t see blood anywhere else, but he will not question Liz because considering what he did earlier that evening, she is probably right.
"I will go and shower.", he responded while letting her out of his hug.
Liz saw that Max"s expression was troubled, but she didn"t know what to say.
Based on the timing of him being late from work, Liz can guess that Max went to deal with Tyler.
She can definitely smell blood on him. As a surgeon, Liz is extremely familiar with that metallic scent. What did Max do? Part of her is afraid to know the answer to that question.
Max used extra shower gel and scrubbed himself thoroughly. The idea that pieces of Tyler are lingering on him is disturbing. But the more upsetting thought is that Liz does not approve. Is she disgusted by him? What if she thinks that he is violent? What if she leaves him?
The anxiety was building inside him and he slammed his fist in the wall. "d.a.m.nit!"
When he heard that Tyler hara.s.sed Elizabeth, anger swelled inside him, and he didn"t think about anything other than to teach Tyler a lesson. How dares he go and approach Liz? And he went to her work! Adding to Max"s rage is also that Tyler ignored the fact that Liz is HIS girlfriend, and that should mean: Liz is untouchable. Tyler going to disturb Liz is stepping over Max.
Now that he vented his anger, and he saw Liz"s complex expression, Max is worried. What if Liz hates him? What if she thinks that he is too much? What if she thinks that he is a violent man?
Max hopes that Liz is aware of the fact that he would crush everyone who dares to think of harming her, while he will never harm her. He will protect Liz against anyone or anything with everything he"s got… but can he protect her from himself?
Max was startled out of his thoughts when a pair of arms circled around him, and Liz leaned against his back.
"Liz?", he called like he wants to make sure that he is not imagining.
"I thought that you could use help with washing your back.", Liz"s soft voice sounded form behind him.
Max turned around and hugged Liz.
"Thank you.", he said.
Liz looked at him curiously. She never saw him that insecure. "What are you thanking me for?"
"For not hating me.", Max responded.
"Is there a reason for me to hate you?"
"I heard that Tyler disturbed you again and I snapped.", Max admitted.
Liz looked into his deep blue eyes and she saw anxiety stirring inside him.
"Max, I never thought that you are a saint. I believe that you will not bully others without a reason, but even if you do… I don"t care. I will judge you based on how you are treating me. And you are treating me with care and respect, and based on that I think you are a good man, for me."
Max rested his forehead on hers, closed his eyes and smiled as relief washed over him. He never knew that it would bring him such a joy just to feel accepted.
After an unknown measure of time Max inched away and looked Liz in her eyes.
Liz never saw Max look at her like that. His expression was soft and intense, and his gaze reached deep into her soul and she felt it. She really felt the strength of his emotions and how much he is hers.
"Elizabeth…", Max"s deep voice sounded under the shower. "I…"
Liz got on her toes and kissed him on the lips. "I know…", she whispered.
Max pulled her back into his solid embrace and Liz wondered, why did she stop him from talking? Probably because she knew what he is going to say, and she knew it because she felt it.
Liz remembered when Max told her that when you love someone and you mean it, the other person will get it no matter how you say it. And this time, his expression told her that he loves her, and he was right: no "I love you" would be more meaningful than the way he holds her and makes her feel safe and how he looks at her like she is the most precious thing in the world.
Liz placed her palms on his cheeks. "Turn around. I want to wash your back and then we can get some food."
Max remembered that they didn"t have dinner. He gave her few quick kisses before responding happily: "Sounds like a plan."
"Mmm…", Max hummed in satisfaction while Liz"s palms glided over his back. "You are getting better at this."
"Really?", Liz asked with glee.
"Mhm…", he confirmed. "If you get bored of being a neurosurgeon, you can come and be my backwasher anytime."
Liz stifled a laugh. "It"s good to know that I have options."
Max half-turned so that he can see her.
"I pay well and for you I will add a special bonus.", he said cheekily and winked.
Liz slapped his b.u.t.tock playfully.
"Ouch! I see you already know what the bonus will be!", he laughed.
…
After dinner, they went to bed, both exhausted after a long day.
Liz slept off after few minutes. Her day was stressful, and it culminated with her confrontation with Tyler, and then she drank wine, and the shower was relaxing, and her tummy is full of good food and Max"s embrace is comforting… and she slept off.
Max cradled Liz in his arms and thought about their interactions from the first day they met. He remembers that Liz was always straightforward and decisive when it counts. And she decided to give them a chance, and to accept him for who he is, regardless of who he was. She is amazing like that.
More than once she told him that she feels safe by his side, but what she does not know is that Max feels safe with her as well. When they hold each other like this, somehow, he knows that everything will be alright.
At first he was reluctant to acknowledge the feelings which Liz stirred inside him out of fear of being hurt, but her no-nonsense personality allowed him to realize that letting someone in is not a bad thing. He feels stronger, more motivated, and more energetic than ever before and it"s all thanks to this woman in his arms and the fact that she believes in him.
He rested his lips on her forehead and took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her shampoo.
"Elizabeth… I love you…", he murmured, feeling the need to say what he started in the shower.
Max"s heart thundered wildly against his chest and he thought how that is silly. Why is he reacting like this? Nervous, like a teenager. Liz is sleeping, and she can"t hear him. But he knows that he said it. Max needed to get it out of his system and now it"s out, hovering above them like a silent vow.
…
Max was half-asleep when he heard the sound of his phone vibrating on the nightstand.
He reached and checked the message: "Tyler is at the Franciscan Medical Center. He came out of the trauma center and now is on the fifth floor, room 570. Condition: stable, still unconscious."
Max typed a response back: "Thanks. Keep me informed of any changes."
…
In the morning…
Liz got out of the bedroom, ready for the day and saw Max on the sofa, reading news on his tablet with two coffee cups on the table in front of him.
"Good morning, beautiful…", Max"s husky voice greeted Elizabeth.
"Good morning, handsome…", she greeted him back and sat next to him.
Liz was not sure if she is seeing right, but Max"s smile seemed brighter this morning.
"Is there anything important going on?", Liz asked while gesturing toward the tablet in his hands.
They usually spend their morning coffee while sharing plans related to the day ahead or Max tells her about something that stands out in the morning news which he reads while she is getting ready.
"Nothing here…", Max said while keeping the tablet on the side. "Tyler is staying at the Franciscan Medical Center."
Liz was not surprised that Max knows this. Isaac told Liz about the Alpha group and the family behind that conglomerate business. Considering the wealth and the power Anderson family wields, it is not unexpected that Max has resources available.
"Do you know what his condition is?", Liz asked.
Max"s lips curved into a smile because Liz didn"t ask him about the origin of his information. Well, if she asked, he would tell her.
"He was unconscious during the night. He woke up about twenty minutes ago and he is in a stable condition."
"Thanks for letting me know." Liz said before taking a sip of her coffee. "Do they know how he got there?"
Max thought for a second before responding. "They have no proof."
Liz turned her back to Max and leaned into his embrace. She sipped her coffee while mentally preparing herself for the day ahead. Considering that Tyler is staying at the Franciscan Medical Center and that he was unconscious, there is a high chance that the doctor in charge of his condition will call Liz to check on him. After all, she is the only neurosurgeon in that hospital. As much as she does not want to see Tyler, this situation is not bad. He is in her territory and she is in charge.
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