31 First morning together

Liz woke up while holding onto a firm body.

She has an oversized bolster pillow in her New York apartment which she hugs to sleep, and in her half-asleep state she wondered, when did she get it to Seattle? Or did she buy a new one?

'Mmm… it does not matter', she thought while wrapping her legs around her bolster and pulling herself to stick to it closely while taking in a satisfied deep breath. 'It's nice and firm and warm and it smells like… Max?'

Her eyes sprang open and she realized that her head is resting on a muscular chest. It is nice and firm and it smells good and… naked!? Just how did she end up in this position?

In panic, Liz scrambled and used her legs to kick out the 'unknown bolster' out of her bed.

"Oww!", Max exclaimed drowsily when he hit the floor hard. "What the…?"

Liz checked herself and exhaled in relief at the realization that she is fully clothed under the cover. The same clothes she was wearing last night.

Max's arm hit the mattress while he was propping himself up. A second later, his sleepy head peeked as well.

"Why did you kick me out?", he asked grumpily.

"Why are you in my bed?", she answered with a question while frowning.

"You slept off during the movie and I brought you here."

"That does not answer why you are here.", she was pointing at the bed.

"You were the one clinging onto me. No matter how much I tried to leave, you would not let go. And I thought that since you were so nice to give me company last night, I can return the favor and don't wake you up. Why are you making a big deal out of it? We are both grown-ups and nothing happened."

Liz took few rapid deep breaths and observed his head and bare shoulders visible above the mattress level. "Why are you naked?"

Max stood up, giving her a full view of his V-shaped torso packed with toned muscles while gesturing toward his jeans pants which are on him.

"I'm not naked.", he stated the obvious.

"What happened to your shirt?" Liz did her best not to gawk at him.

Max smirked at Liz's poor attempts to keep her eyes on his instead of his exposed body. "You drooled on it, and it was wet and uncomfortable, so I removed it."

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Liz was embarrassed. She knows that she drools sometimes, mostly when she is really tired.

Max saw that Liz's fighting spirit subsided and he climbed on the bed, under the cover and closed his eyes.

"What are you doing?" Liz was about to kick him out again.

"I like to spend few minutes with my eyes closed while waking up. It gives me time to think about my day ahead and plan for anything if needed.", he explained without opening his eyes.

Liz paused and thought about what he said. She laid down on the bed, pulled the cover up to her shoulders and closed her eyes. "Me too."

Max peeked to confirm that she is also lying next to him and flashed a smile.

"If I knew that I will have such a rude awakening, I would force you to let go of me last night, even if that means waking you up so that I can sleep in my bed.", he grumbled.

"Sorry. I panicked. I'm not used to having someone in my bed.", she explained.

He sighed. "Don't worry about it."

After few seconds, he chuckled. "Is your impulse to kick people when you panic?"

She stifled a laugh. "I don't know. You are my first."

Max opened his eyes and propped himself on an elbow, facing her. "Liz, I have a confession to make."

She looked at him and blinked few times while wondering, what is he up to? Oh, God! He is so close… What's up with that intense gaze? Even his messy hair is handsome.

"I… never felt like this about any girl before…", he made a dramatic pause, allowing her time to process his words and he enjoyed that her eyes are widening in anticipation of what is coming. "With you I feel relaxed, and I can be myself. Thank you for that."

Liz exhaled the breath she was holding and smiled. "Same here."

Max leaned closer and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you for the last night. I really appreciate that you spent your evening with me… and night."

"You are welcome." She is happy that he is in a visibly better mood, but… "Max, not that I'm complaining, but can you go easy on the kissing?"

He looked at her with a pout.

"But you are complaining.", Max stated the fact and added: "Don't you know the rumors?"

"What rumor?"

"The one where any girl would throw her panties at me just for a kiss. And here you are… getting kisses as my thank you without the need to relinquish your precious underwear."

For a brief moment, Liz was not sure if he is joking or not. But she thought that there is no way he is serious even though Olivia also mentioned something about panties flying around him… but it can be that both of them heard the same rumor. Right?

Visualizing girls throwing panties at him was a ridiculous image in her mind and she burst into a fit of giggles.

"If you want to thank me, I need something more tangible than a kiss on the cheek.", Liz said when she calmed down.

He wanted to offer one on the lips, but he decided on a different strategy. "Would a lunch do?"

"Yes, a lunch is a much better 'thank you' than a kiss."

"OK. I will take you out for a lunch today.", he responded without missing a beat.

Liz paused. "That's not what I…"

"Do you have other plans?", he interrupted her rejection.

"Well, no.", Liz admitted.

"Then it's settled. Lunch it is!"

He approached her swiftly and kissed her cheek again. "Kisses are a bonus… and because you are so nice, you get to keep your panties." He winked playfully.

Max plopped on his back and closed his eyes. He smiled with a satisfaction that she didn't flinch or frown when he kissed her this last time. He knows that it's only a peck on the cheek, but slowly he is getting closer to her and making her drop her guard.

Liz reminded herself to stay focused. Max is not swaying that way, and if she allows her imagination to go wild it will not end well. 'Friends. We are friends.', she told herself. And Liz will not deny that she is having fun with Max. Even his harmless flirting is entertaining.

"Fine. Lunch. But please, no dress code or anything over the top. Deal?"

"Deal.", he accepted right away.

They lied next to each other in pleasant silence for some time when they heard the front door closing.

"Are you expecting someone?", Max asked lazily.

Liz glanced at the time and inhaled sharply when she saw that it's 9 AM. "Olivia."

"Your housekeeper?"

"Yes.", Liz bolted out of the bed.

"What's with the panic?" Max watched with amusement Liz scramble through the room like she is looking for something. Probably a place to hide.

"You don't understand. It's Olivia. She is already full of crazy scenarios about the two of us. If she sees us like this… Oh, who knows what she will think?"

"Do you care about her opinion so much? She works for you."

Liz stopped moving and sat on the edge of the bed. "She does. But since I came here she is the closest thing to a friend I have."

Max propped himself up and scooted to sit next to Liz. "That hurts my feelings."

Liz felt guilt wash over her. "I'm sorry. You are my friend also."

"But you care only about her opinion.", he said dejectedly.

"That is not true. I care about yours as well.", she responded immediately.

Max lit up. "Really?"

Liz looked at his boyish grin and thought that it's adorable. "Yes. Really. Now dress up. I'm going out to check on Olivia before she enters here."

Max watched Liz get out of the bedroom and he threw himself backward on the bed. Elizabeth's bed. Ha! He spent the night with Liz and secured a lunch as well.

Max narrowed his eyes while thinking about his next steps.

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