When chairman Lee left Liz's room, Rhonda entered. She wanted to come right away, but chairman Lee told her to wait until they clarify the situation. He didn't call the police out of respect for Liz and Max, but if it turned out that Max was the one who hurt Liz, chairman Lee would not hold back. If he allowed Liz to return home with her bully, chairman Lee would not be able to face Isaac ever again.
Rhonda also wanted to know what happened to Liz and she listened intently while her chin trembled. Liz was moved to see Rhonda so shaken up, even though Liz didn't go into details.
"Congratulations on your engagement.", Rhonda said when Liz finished her story. "The proposal was very… public."
"That is a nice way to put it…", Liz laughed. With painkillers working, she didn't feel that anything was wrong with her. "Max arranged for a private evening which was romantic and there was this…", Liz said with a smile and extended her left hand for Rhonda to see the engagement ring.
Rhonda gave Max a thumbs up. "I knew it the moment I saw you. Tall, handsome, and gives beautiful flowers. I guess I can add to that list how you are generous and good in picking jewelry."
Liz hugged Max's arm. "And he is my knight in shining armor who comes to rescue me when I'm in trouble."
Max took the compliments with a smile.
Sabrina called them, wanting to come to the hospital. She heard from Mia and Hunter that Liz was kidnapped. Liz assured Sabrina that everything is fine and that now she wanted to rest and they will call her later. Sabrina accepted this reluctantly. She wanted to see Liz, but she didn't want to intrude either.
They were relieved to hear the final results which confirmed that Liz does not have internal injuries. This result also meant that Liz can leave the hospital at any time.
When Rhonda left, Liz turned to Max. "Take me home, Max…"
Max remembered the renovation. "About that… there is a little surprise."
"What is it?"
"You will see…", he said mysteriously.
Liz was dumbfounded when she saw that their hallway was significantly shortened and that there is one door, only a few steps away from the elevator.
"Welcome home…", Max said while holding Liz into his arms. Since he found her in Las Vegas, Max didn't let Liz walk and he carried her around bridal style.
Liz told him that she can walk, but Max insisted, and Liz allowed him to spoil her.
Max held her so that she punches in the passcode and he carried her over the threshold into their new hallway.
From the hallway, there were two open passages, wide as two regular doors, one to the left and one to the right. Those were entrances to their respective apartments, but Max had doors removed and expanded the gaps.
Other than those two passages, there were two doors added, one leading into the storage room which belonged to Liz's apartment, and the other one into the bedroom which belonged to Max's apartment.
"I didn't want to open it up too much before discussing with you…", Max said.
Liz looked around and she needed to confirm. "Does this mean that we own both apartments?"
Max confirmed. "The moment we stepped out of that elevator, we were on our property. This floor is ours, love."
"How wonderful!", Liz exclaimed and gave him a smacking kiss on the lips.
When Max told her that the villa in Las Vegas is theirs, she also thought about purchasing these apartments and combining them into one, but Max was faster.
Liz's wheels were turning. "We should think of repurposing some rooms. We don't need so many bedrooms, and we don't need two kitchens either. Maybe one kitchen can be converted into a wet bar. We could have one area like private quarters, and the other one for entertaining guests… Did you open up the dividers on the terrace?"
"There was time only for the work in this hallway.", Max responded, happy that Liz approved of this and that she was already planning further. "When we decide on additional remodel, we can take care of the terrace."
Liz approved.
In the living room, Liz noticed the flowers. There were several bouquets of dark red roses placed in the vases and arranged through space.
"Thank you for the flowers. Did you get this for last night?"
Max responded with a nod. "I was planning to welcome you at the airport and surprise you with this remodel and a romantic dinner."
Liz leaned her head on his shoulder. "I'm loving the remodel. It's a wonderful surprise and we can have that romantic dinner tonight, and tomorrow, and every evening going forward."
The previous night was a nightmare, but now that she was in Max's arms, Liz felt at peace. She knew that it will take some time for her to forget the ordeal, but she was confident that Max's presence will make all the bad things fade into nothing.
Liz requested to take a bath first. She was still wearing the bathrobe which Dr. Snow put on her in the hotel in Las Vegas and she wanted to scrub her body together with any memories of the previous night.
She was very clingy and didn't want to separate from Max, and Max didn't want to part from Liz either. He filled the tub with warm water and helped Liz undress before getting into the tub with her.
Liz sat between Max's legs with her back facing him and he washed her body gently with a sponge.
He started with her back and then Liz leaned on him and he washed her front.
Liz relaxed on Max, enjoying the feeling of his firm chest against her back, and his hands moving over her front… it was stimulating. The sponge circled around her breasts, down her abdomen and then he washed her thighs, without touching her core.
Liz arched her body while hoping to feel him there, and she groaned in displeasure when the sponge moved up toward her knee.
"Aren't you hurt?", Max's deep voice sounded close to her ear.
He was aroused, but he could see the bruises and he knew that this is not a good time to get handsy.
"Touch me, Max…", Liz breathed. "I need your touch. Only good things will make the bad ones go away…"
The sponge plopped in the water, and Max's palms glided across Liz's thighs.
"Ahh…", she exhaled loudly when Max's fingers touched her flower and her body shuddered when his other hand cupped her breast, and he pinched her nipple, tugging it gently.
Max caressed Liz's body and kissed her neck, and she felt the waves of pleasure wash over her. She spread her legs how much the tub allowed, and his two fingers slipped inside her as the root of his palm massaged her clit. It was heavenly.
He knew exactly where to touch and how hard to press, and she fell apart in his hand within minutes. Liz wanted to make him feel good, but Max refused.
"Let's rinse up and eat something…", Max said.
"I'm not hungry for food."
They had a light meal in the hospital while waiting for the results, but she wanted to eat him up.
Max smiled. "Let's go to bed."
Liz agreed. Max helped her rinse after bath and towel off before they headed to bed.
She wanted to make love to him, but her body betrayed her. Her eyelids were too heavy, and she yawned.
"Rest, love…", Max coaxed her while planting small kisses on her forehead. He saw that she was exhausted and fighting to stay awake. "It's important that you rest, and anything else will come later."
"You need to rest also."
"I will. Now that you are home, I will…", Max said and snuggled next to Liz.
Liz rested her head on Max's chest and took a deep breath. His scent, his warmth, his arms around her… it all brought her a sense of peace and safety.
"Max?"
"Hmm?"
"What happened to Irene?"
Max told her that he has Irene, but she didn't know more than that.
"She is in the safehouse. I still didn't decide what to do with her, but she is not going anywhere, and she can't harm us anymore."
"Can I see her after my injuries heal?"
Max didn't want Liz to experience more pain by seeing Irene, but he could not deny her this. "If you wish."
"I have a score to settle with her. Don't kill her, Max. Death is too easy for her…", Liz mumbled and drifted off to sleep.
"I know, love…", Max murmured, and his eyes flashed dangerously. He wanted to rip Irene into pieces for everything she did.
He could not believe that even after they caught Irene, she tried playing coy with him while thinking that he will let her go. Well, that stunt earned her two gunshots.
Max was too relaxed and that allowed Irene to escape too many times, and there is no way he will do the same mistake again. But he also agreed with Liz that death is too easy, and Irene does not deserve an easy exit. He wanted Irene to experience fear and desperation and… Liz sighed softly, pulling him into the reality where she was right next to him, sleeping.
Max looked at the gorgeous woman in his arms and he reminded himself how that is what's important. No matter what Irene did, he will not allow her to corrupt the happiness that he found with Liz. Not anymore.
Max listened to Liz's even breathing and he drifted off to sleep as well.
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