Lost Highway

Rating: ADULT
Category: Dreamer and some Supporting Candy - AU w/out Aliens
E-mail: behrsgirl77@msn.com
Disclaimer: The titles to each chapter as well as the lyrics on the banner, and below each chapter title, were taken from Bon Jovi's Lost Highway album. While they inspired this story, I do not claim them to be mine. The story however, is all mine.

Summary: Sometimes you find love, but it's at the wrong time and the wrong place. Some betrayals can never be forgiven. And sometimes you can't help the one you love, no matter how they came to be.

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Part 3

TILL WE AINT STRANGERS ANYMORE
Tell me who you think you see when you look into my eyes. Lets put our two hearts back together and we'll leave the broken pieces on the floor. Make love with me baby.
Till we ain't strangers anymore

THE SUN HAD ALREADY SET, AND THE GUYS were putting the tents together. They'd spent so much time catching up that dinnertime had come and they hadn't even noticed. That was until Kyle began to grumble.

Maria ordered the guys to put the tents together, while they made the hot dogs and hamburgers. Michael had tried to interrupt saying that Maria didn't know how, to which she quickly put him in his place saying, "Just because I choose not to, doesn't mean I don't know how. Tents. Now!" she growled out and Michael did nothing but smile and kiss her lips before heading off with the guys.

Liz had watched them closely, along with Isabel and Alex, even Kyle and Tess. It was amazing that there was so much apparent love between the couples. Liz felt cold, deep down to her bones. Her relationship with Tom was never like that. Ever.

Turning her attention from Isabel and Maria, who were arguing over the fact that Maria was burning the hamburgers, to where Max was. Her mind was still reeling of what he'd asked her in the car on the way in.

"Liz, do you remember what you told me last night?" She hadn't, she wished she had, but when she made him aware that the alcohol must have gotten to her, he'd abandoned all talk of last night.

Something she wished not to forget, she was sure. Damn her weak tolerance! But something about the heated glance Max had given her as he waited patiently for her to appear from the house this morning, and the way his hand brushed hers as he grabbed her bag, said it was something important.

Why couldn't he just tell her?

Then again, another part of her felt this childish, giddy feeling. She was determined to embrace it. It was the last one she would be feeling for a long while, she was sure. Her time with her friends, with Max, was shortening by the hour.

Everyone, thus far had tactfully not asked Liz were Tom was, and she was more than grateful. She could just enjoy her time and not have to think of excuses. She'd already lied to Maria, she didn't like it, but it was necessary.

"Do you think, we'll see any bears?" came Tess' voice, as she took a seat on the log beside Liz.

"Bears? There are bears?" she asked with some suspicion.

"Liz, don't listen to Tess, she hates camping," Maria said from behind them.

Liz turned to Tess and watched as she pulled her short, curly blonde hair into a tight ponytail. "You don't like camping?"

"No. The bugs, the outdoor bathrooms, none of it."

"But you're here," Liz commented.

"I come for Kyle. We don't get out of the house too much, as you can imagine with three kids, but he enjoys it. He gets to see his friends and I get to see mine."

"That's nice, that you do that." Tess smiled and said, "Of course. He might be a pain in the ass, and sometimes I think I have four kids instead of three, but I love him anyway."

"Tess! Where did you put the sleeping bags!" came Kyle's bellowing voice.

"They're in the car! Where else do you think they would be!" she called back, not moving an inch. Then she looked at Liz, held up her left hand, and began to count.

"1... 2... 3..."

"Tess! They aren't there!"

"Men. Liz, why can't they find anything on their own? Excuse me," Tess said as she stood and walked over to her husband a few feet away.

Liz smiled as she watched them talk animatedly, and then saw Tess walk away, only to return a few minutes later with sleeping bags in hand. And then, Kyle did the sweetest thing she'd ever seen a man do in her life. He plucked the bags from her hands, tossed them in the tent, and lifted her in his arms, spun her around and kissed her.

To love like that must be amazing, she thought, miserably.

Why hadn't she seen it sooner? Surely she wasn't blind. It was clear that Kyle adored Tess, and that Michael adored Maria... and even Alex was head over ass in love with Isabel, she was the sun and the moon to him. Even if he tried to act tough, but when he looked at her, it would take a blind man not to see the adoration he had for her.

Liz sucked in a deep breath, pushed back the tears that were threatening to spill, and stood. Maybe a brisk walk would help.

"Where are you going?" Max, she thought, and closed her eyes. How did he always know where she was? Was he keeping track of her? Nah, that was in her head.

"I was taking a walk, but I realized I'm starving," she smiled shyly, as he simply nodded his head. He was distracted by something.

"Liz, can I ask you something." She felt nervous; he was staring at her, or rather, her hand. Left hand.

"I don't want to pry, so if you don't want to answer, that's okay. Why don't you wear your wedding ring?" Maria hadn't told him? And more importantly he noticed, that she didn't wear it?

"Because I'm not married anymore, Max." It was a lie in the truest sense. However, deep down, she wasn't married, she'd never had a real marriage. But she didn't want him to know; she didn't want the numerous questions that would surely follow. She just wanted this time with him, with her friends, to cherish.

He nodded, his lips curled, and he asked, "How long?" She wasn't prepared for that question, but she answered, "Two months."

"I'm sorry, Liz." She looked up at him, he was standing before her now, and she tilted her head to the side and regarded him. It hurt, almost too much, to look at him. To have him this close, and not have him. And not be his.

She shouldn't wonder, she shouldn't care, but she did. She couldn't stop, in fact. It would be her demise, but she was walking away in a few days.

"I'm not."

"Liz! Max! Dinner's ready!" came Michael's voice from a short distance, breaking their reverie.

Max reached out his hand to her; she slipped hers inside, and followed him. In that moment she realized, she'd follow him anywhere he asked.

What a damn fool she was.

*~*~*

It was their second night there, and she and Max had talked into late evening, she looked forward to their talks. Max told her all about his job, his charities, and the children he and Michael sponsor. She reveled in the stories and asked questions until she was hoarse. And she felt like she was a part of it. That she was important enough to Max for him to share things with her, that he'd never shared with anyone else. He'd even told her as much.

And for the first time in a long time, she felt special. How sad, it would never come from her husband, but from a man she'd dreamed and fantasized about for years. A man she wished she'd thrown caution to the wind for.

Digging through her bag, she paused, and closed her eyes. If she ever had the chance again, she'd throw caution out the window and do what she'd wanted for so long. Kiss him. Just once.

Unzipping her tent, she tugged her robe around her tighter. She'd opted for a long t-shirt she'd borrowed from Max the night before, because even though the sun had set, it was a humid night. It was the most risqué thing she'd worn to bed in years.

Shaking her head of the thoughts, she crouched down near Max's tent and spoke softly, hoping he wasn't asleep yet. "I have to brush my teeth, Max."

"Okay. I'll be right out," he called out. She heard the rustling and wondered if he was already dressed for bed. She wondered, what he wore to bed. The sound of the zipper on his tent being pulled, caused those thoughts to take on another form, and she licked her dry lips and stood abruptly, when he his peeked out to regard her.

"I'm sorry if I woke you. But will you come with me?" her voice, sounded small even to her own ears. She would ask Maria, or one of the other girls, but they were otherwise occupied. Max must have heard it... them, because he was on his feet a moment later.

"Sure thing, Liz." He was bare from the waist up and suddenly Liz wasn't sure if she shouldn't have walked to the pump by herself.

They began to walk in silence until he asked; "Are you happy?" his voice was gruff.

"Max, do you mean to ask me if I had a happy marriage? Or if I'm happy right now?"

He didn't break his stride, but didn't answer her right away. The water pump came into view and she went about her business, his back was turned. She was thankful, that for Tess' sake, Maria had picked a campground with bathrooms, so she was able to shower earlier in the day. Unfortunately, they were hidden by the darkness and she didn't want to venture too far out.

Of course, she'd used the excuse of asking Max to go with her, just so they could talk more. She enjoyed it, thoroughly.

After finishing, she moved beside him and they walked in silence until he finally said, "Both. I want the answer to both."

She sighed, not wanting to discuss her marriage at all, but it was futile to avoid his questions. "Max I didn't have a happy marriage, and it was finally time that I walked away since it didn't look like he was leaving anytime soon. Of course, why should he? He had a trophy wife, I smiled when I was supposed to, and I dressed properly. I cooked dinner and kept the house clean. And he had six girlfriends he fucked on the side. What more can a man really need?" bitterness dripped from her voice.

"I'm sorry, Liz. Marriage isn't like that. Not a real one."

"Yeah, I'm beginning to see that during this trip out here."

"I'm glad."

"What? That I had a bad marriage or that..."

"I'm glad that you're seeing it doesn't have to be that way." Max smiled at her, and realized that they'd walked past their trail, and moved closer to the lake near the bottom of the hill they were situated at.

"They told you didn't they?"

"Liz," he sighed and she asked again, softer.

"Yes. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, Max. You have a great life, so does Maria and Michael and Alex and Isabel... all of you have done great. I knew I made a mistake in leaving, but it was too late."

"What about now?"

"Now, I get to start over. I can't get back all the years I lost but I don't have to live them the same you know?"

"Yes."

"It's so peaceful out here, I miss it." Liz moved to stand beside him as they reached the waters edge. Max agreed, but then moved a little further back, resting his back against a tall tree.

"Come here, Liz," his voice drifted to her, and as if on autopilot, she followed, standing before him. This was it, she thought. It was finally going to happen.

Max reached out, cupping her face in his hands and kissed her. His lips soft at first, applied more pressure as he dragged them across hers, stealing her breath and her heart.

Her lips, he thought, were soft and perfect. Her little moans, driving him to distraction, and in the next instant, they'd switched positions, her back against the tree and his long, lean body stretched against hers.

Liz couldn't think, could only feel, lips; hot and damp against her neck, and his body, his perfect body fitting exactly as she always thought it would against hers. Nothing felt better.

Dragging his lips against hers once more before pulling away, Max panted against her cheek, "Liz, tell me to stop."

"Please... Max... don't stop..." She hugged him closer, breathed him in deeper. He growled against her ear, his hands sliding down her exposed thighs, lifting them to wrap around his waist. Her robe, already loose hung off her shoulders.

"God, Liz..." he whispered into her mouth before taking it again, wanting her more than his next heartbeat. Her body arching against his, she let out a moan of deep longing. He knew that sound, was familiar with it on other women's lips... not Liz's. What the hell was he doing? He'd told Michael he wouldn't sleep with Liz, he'd even told himself he wouldn't and yet here he was a moment from taking her.

Max stepped away, letting her legs drop and kissing her lips once more before looking down at her upturned face.

"Why are you stopping?" she said in a panting whisper into the night and was met with his dazzling smile.

His words surprised him, "I've waited a decade for this moment, and it's not going to be here, Liz. Let's go back."

"No, here Max. I don't want to wait. I've waited long enough," and for added measure she added, "Please." His heartbeat sped up, he looked around and realized they were in the middle of the woods, close to the other tents enough to see them on top of the hill, but still far enough away that they wouldn't be seen or heard. He moved to the other side of the tree, out of the path they had walked and pulled her against him. Max pulled her robe free and dropped it to the ground, then reached for her.

"Kiss me, Liz," he asked and she gave everything up to it. His hands moved to her waist, up her ribs, cupping her breasts, his fingers rolling the rounded tip of her nipples around and around until she broke their kiss with another moan, this one more pleading than all the rest. Max pushed his body up against hers harder, letting her know without words there was no turning back now.

She responded with her hands planted firmly around his neck and the sound of his name on her lips.

He worked quickly of removing her shirt, tugging it over her head, so she stood before him in the moonlight, completely and utterly naked. He leaned in and kissed her lips, dragged his lips down her neck, over each breast, down the flat surface of her stomach and below. He kneeled before her, parted her and waited until he felt her relax under his fingers, before he leaned in and tasted her.

The scent of her arousal filled his nostrils as his tongue was filled with the taste of her.

Finally. Finally. That was all he could think in that moment.

Liz drew in a deep breath and bit her bottom lip to stop from crying out. His mouth was on her, in places no one had ever touched. Her fingers dug into his midnight black hair, she gasped for air, and thought, nothing felt as incredible or as erotic to her as Max beneath her, his mouth doing things to her. She tipped her head back, and took everything he gave her, locking it deep inside.

Finally, she thought. Finally, she would know what it was like to be with him. To be with a man who was sensitive and passionate, yet aggressive and outspoken. A man, who knew her. The real her. Who wanted only her, just as she was. Liz Parker.

She'd never known passion, never knew what it would feel like and if she'd even recognize it if it happened.

She was wrong. Max was showing her all the things she'd missed out on. Tears, slowly formed at the corners of her eyes, but she embraced them. They were good tears. This was a great moment. And even better memory.

Her body tensed beneath his tongue and hands, and he pulled away. She cried out over the loss.

"Shh, sweetheart... shh..." He stood, cupped her face gently, and kissed her deeply. Liz wasn't sure when or how it happened, but when Max pressed himself against her, he was naked from head to toe. Her hands skimmed his back, his shoulders, his neck, and his lips and finally they slid lower. Over his chest, down his abdomen, around his hips, to the tops of his legs and then holding her breath her hands found the place between. The heat radiating off of him, making her lungs grow tight with need, made her burn. She'd never had an urgency to have sex; she thought she wasn't made that way. She was being proven wrong by him as every second came to pass.

Leaning up on her tiptoes, she kissed him deeply, languidly, allowing her tongue to taste and feel every part of his mouth. One small hand came up to play in his hair, while the other remained below, wrapping around his erection and finally knowing what it felt like to touch him, as she'd never touched another man.

In that moment, she hoped her inexperience didn't show. It was embarrassing enough that she knew the truth but that Max would know, was mortifying.

Their eyes locked, the moonlight providing just enough light for them to soak in one another. Max leaned in to kiss her, to move her body in just the right spot, but he stopped.

"What?" she asked breathlessly.

He gulped for air. "I don't have any protection, Liz. We can't-"

Liz smiled, for the first time; she was one step ahead of him. Keeping her hand around him, stroking him from root to tip, reveling in the sound of his moans, and the deepening of his breathing, she placed a finger against his lips. "It's okay Max." She kissed him again, opening her legs and pressing the head of his erection at her entrance. He stopped her, wrenching his lips from hers.

"Liz... we..." he hissed, gritting his teeth, because he knew he wanted her, but he couldn't have her. Again, another opportunity out the window. But maybe it was for the best, maybe it wasn't meant to be... maybe...

"I'm on birth control, Max. It's okay... please..."

He didn't skip a beat; "You're sure?" it was all he could think to say. His body was raging to get inside of her, and now knowing he'd have her finally without any barriers, was more than he could concentrate on.

"Yes." He needed no further words. He spun her around, found her robe and her shirt and laid them out; he took a seat and pulled her into his lap.

"Come here, Liz." He reached for her, settling her above him, rubbing the fat knob of his erection at her wet entrance, and guided her down.

She was so small... and he was not.

"Yes." They both hissed out, Max wrapping his arms around her, Liz wrapping her body around his.

With his hands at her waist he moved her, feeling her body stretch to take him. Once she was half way, he leaned up and kissed her, greedily, wanting her body to relax. He wanted to pull her against him, sate himself inside of her, but knew, for some reason, that she might have been married, but she was inexperienced. Knew that he couldn't take her the first time, couldn't love her body the way he dreamed, he needed to slow down. More importantly he needed to teach her that he'd never hurt her, that this meant more to him than just sex. He wasn't sure when, but he had a feeling that anything with Liz would be more.

Always wanting more. Always feeling more. Just more. It was an addictive feeling, one he didn't plan to let go of for some time. He would figure out his next step, after he'd satisfied her fully.

He placed one hand on her hip, the other on the small of her back, urging her further down. And finally he was fully encased within her wet heat. Liz dug her fingers into his shoulders, allowing her body to take him, as he wanted her. It wasn't about domination, it was about mutual gratification, something she'd never experienced. He kissed her lips, her breasts, ran his fingers through her hair, there wasn't one part of her he hadn't touched or kissed. Not one part of her he hadn't cherished, she closed her eyes tightly and just felt.

"Jesus baby... you feel amazing..." He panted, sweat dripping from his body, raising her above him, he pulled almost all the way out, and then pulled her harder against him. It wasn't enough, she felt incredible.

The endearments he threw her way weren't lost on Liz. She arched her body more fully against his, sweat beading on her brows, forming around her lips.

"Max... oh god!" she moaned, the place they were joined, dripping. Their bodies, straining against one another, trying to get closer, feel harder.

Max felt like he might break her. Her waist was small, her hands even smaller, but she took him without complaint. She'd been married for years. She might not have been a virgin but if he'd had to guess, she'd probably never had an orgasm with a man. The thought alone, cause something inside of him to snap. He didn't know what her husband was doing with her, but she felt inexperienced and so damn tight. If he closed his mind enough, he could think of being her first... it caused an uncontrollable shudder in his body.

He thrust up harder, feeling her body tense above his, the sweat of their bodies causing the slapping sound to grow louder and louder, and then she let out a long serrated moan. He watched her; her lips parted, her breasts pressed firmly against his chest and with another long thick slide of his erection, he was bathed in the hot, slick heat of her orgasm.

"Fuck!" it was all he could say right before she kissed him, and he felt his resolve melt away, his body jerking in heavy spasms, his body filling her, his orgasm rocking his core.

Max kissed her harder, pressed her against him, harder, felt her body flutter around his once again.

Damn, had anything ever felt better? He searched his mind and came up blank. It was the single most satisfying sexual experience of his life. And that said a lot in his experience.

"Are you okay? I didn't hurt you did I?" he asked, pulling her down beside him and cradling her against his body.

Their breathing settled, and their bodies no longer connected intimately, he moved and reached for her shirt, drying the sweat from her body.

"I'm great, Max. Thank you. That was a first for me... many actually," she confessed against his shoulder, he pulled her tighter.

Since he was unclear what she was referring to, he asked, "What?"

"I've always used a condom and I've never had that... you know... before."

"I'll get to my question in a minute but I've never had sex without a condom either Liz, are you sure it was okay?" he asked, and a part of him in that second, wished it wasn't okay. He could see Liz having his children; she was the only one he'd allowed himself to dream about like that.

"Positive." And before he was able to ask his next question, Liz beat him to the punch line.

"I wasn't supposed to have kids, it would ruin my body. So I used birth control and condoms."

"Well... his loss is my gain because you felt incredible Liz." He kissed her again; he never wanted to relinquish his hold on her. He didn't want her to leave; he wanted her to stay... with him. Forever

And then his body betrayed him, and did the most unexpected thing; it hardened against her thigh. He'd never been ready that quickly before. He pulled away and looked down at her.

He loved her. He could think it, but he shouldn't say it. She would get the wrong idea. But when the time was right...

"Again?" she sounded shocked and excited at the same time.

"Yeah? How about we get a little more comfortable?"

"Okay..." In the next few minutes he dressed her and pulled on his jeans. Helped her clean up, with much reluctance, and they headed back, hand in hand to her tent.

"We have to be quiet."

"The lantern, Max. You need to turn it off," she panted against his lips as his body slid over hers. He pulled her into his arms, kissed her, and ignored her protest. "Tell me if I hurt you..."

"I don't think that's possible," she gasped at the feel of him against her. She'd never grow tired, of that she was certain.

Max leaned up, pushed her legs back, her knees to her chest, until she was completely exposed, more than she'd ever been in her life. He entered her in one long thick slide, he was bigger than Tom, in so many ways, but the way he filled her was exquisite. Like he was made for her. She watched as he kept the lantern on, until he was all the way in... then he smiled and leaned over, turning the light off...

Max's body moved fluidly over hers, over and over... in and out... She took all that he gave, and she gave back as well, after all, she loved him.

It was the truth... she loved this man. She always had, and concluded that she always would.

"Max... yes..." she panted softly, against his ear. He growled, and pulled her hands away from his body, lifted them over her head and issued a command.

"Come for me, Liz." His thrusts now making her breasts bounce and her body lifted off the ground. It was the best feeling in the world.

The words he whispered were ones she'd never think she'd ever hear out of his mouth. Not the Max Evans she knew, but then again, this was a different Max. He was boy then, now he was a man. A man who knew how to take care of a woman, in and out of bed, she was sure.

His words resounded once again, calling her back to their act, "I love to see you come, Liz. To watch your lips part, your neck strain, your perfect ass tense beneath my fingers... ah God... I want to feel you come all over me..." Again he thrust higher and higher until she had to bite back the scream as she arched her back and came just as he'd demanded.

"Ahh... that's it. Now, I want you to come again, Liz."

"No... Max... I can't..." she gasped breathlessly. She didn't care if the entire campground heard her at that point. He felt incredible. He loved her so thoroughly.

He took her earlobe between his teeth, bit down gently, and then sucked on it, until her body went lax beneath his. Then he drove in again, gruffly he said, "Yes, you can baby. I'm going to teach you," he leaned in and whispered, "that it doesn't have to end."

He wrapped his arms around her, and rolled them over. Her body above his, she went to lean down but he stopped her. "Ride me, just like that. I want to watch you." His breathing was so ragged she barely made out the words, but she already knew what he wanted, because she wanted it too.

"Max..." she said, shakily, her entire body tensing at taking him from this angle, but she relaxed and let the feeling and the knowledge that Max Evans, the man she had always loved was beneath her, was making love to her.

Their eyes locked in that moment, and he whispered, "You are so beautiful," then his voice broke off and he bit back a curse, "That's it sweetheart," he moaned out as she began to move over him. She smiled at how she could control him, how he could let himself be controlled by her. How good she was making him feel.

"I wish... I'd told you sooner... all those years ago... like that... god... Liz don't stop." Her hands came up to his chest and she moved her knees higher. She began to impale herself on him over and over, her orgasm just in reach, and it seemed that Max knew it because he reached out, touching the wet place they were joined and rubbed her clitoris until she was on edge. He then he trust up into her... once... twice and issued another command one she was eager to fulfill...

"Come with me baby... let go and let me feel you... feel me..." Max gritted his teeth and let out a hiss of pleasure

"Max!" her body arched, her orgasm racing through her and over him, as he filled her from below, their bodies strained in joint satisfaction.

Max pulled her down against his chest, grabbing the edge of the sleeping bag and pulling it over them. He kissed to top of her head, and smiled when she wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling against him.

"That was another first," he whispered, as he pushed her matted hair away from her face. She blew his mind and left him sated beyond words. It was never like that.

"A shared one?" she guessed and hoped she was right.

"Yes," he confessed with a smile.

"Never?" she asked, sounding surprised.

"Ever." He kissed her, pulling her closer into his arms and holding her.

"I feel like I've known you forever, Max. Is that wrong?"

"No sweetheart, it's not."

"I've had the best night of my life," she murmured right before he fell asleep. He was too exhausted to respond the way he should have, so instead he said, "Me too, Liz. Me too."

She cried herself to sleep that night. It wasn't the first time she'd done that, but it was the first time, the tears were from a feeling of utter happiness and fulfilling love.

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