314 Opening up 1

Liz showed Max three bedrooms, a bonus room, and a living room. His sight was attracted to the magnificent view of the city. The terrace is spacious and facing West, and he could see himself enjoying a drink with a view of the sunset and Liz by his side. The only problem is that they missed tonight's sunset and tomorrow they are leaving for Seattle in the afternoon and he hoped that he will get a chance to come here again. With Liz.

Only when Liz mentioned that they should go up, Max noticed the stairs.

"A two-story unit?"

Liz confirmed. "Yup. Come upstairs. That is where the master bedroom is…"

Max felt silly. He saw the bedrooms, but there was no kitchen or the eating area so he should know that there is more to this apartment, however, he didn't expect that 'more' would mean 'up'.

On the upper level, there is a kitchen with an eating space, a massive sitting room, and of course, the master bedroom. Max was not sure where to look. He thought that his (and Liz's) apartment in Seattle is nice, but this is more than nice.

The sitting room on the upper level has floor to ceiling windows on three sides, and it opens up to a spacious half-covered terrace. Even more amazing is the roof in the master bedroom: it's made out of glass.

Max threw himself on the massive bed and stared at the starry sky above him which confirmed that they are in a penthouse. "I didn't know that you can see the stars from Manhattan."

"Normally, you can't because of the pollution and all the lights, but from here… we are on the 52nd floor, above most of it." Liz responded.

"This unit occupies half of the floor." Max noticed only two apartment doors in the hallway when they exited the elevator. Similar to how they have it in Seattle. "Do you know who your neighbor across the hall is?"

"No." Liz responded. "In New York, we are not so friendly as in Seattle. I've seen an older man and one younger lady, but I don't know if they are neighbors or just visiting."

Max remembered Liz mentioning more than once that Seattleites are friendlier than New Yorkers, but he didn't know that it's to the point of not familiarizing yourself with immediate neighbors.

Max thought how this apartment is almost double the size than the one in Seattle and knowing the price of the real-estate, Liz's apartment costs a fortune. But then… considering the castle-mansion where she grew up and now Isaac lives, they can afford it.

Max glanced to the side and observed a light blue bolster pillow that is about five feet long. "Is that me?"

Liz blinked and it took her a few seconds to understand that he is talking about the pillow. She dissolved into giggles.

"I will take that as a 'yes'." Max grumbled and pushed the pillow off the bed.

Liz could not believe that he did that.

Liz looked into his deep blue eyes while his last words echoed in her mind and guilt swelled inside her. He is talking about eliminating threats to their harmony, yet she contemplated running away from everything.

Liz pressed her lips into a line and hugged him, hiding her face in his neck. "Thank you, Max, for not blaming me. Tonight, I hit a low point when I didn't know what to do."

Max knows what she means because he hit a low point as well. He was hoping to hear the details and that she will not blame herself. He ran his fingers through her hair. "Will you tell me about it?"

Liz nodded and took a deep breath before answering. "I got out of the restroom and bumped into Mona and Helen. Mona said that she knows you and that you… slept with her. I know that it's in the past and that it does not matter, but my insecurities resurfaced, and… it hurt. It made me wonder how many women…" Liz stopped herself because she does not want to blame him for what he did before they met. It's not fair.

"I needed some air and I got out. But instead of calming down, Patrick came and told me that everyone knows about your past and I was angry. I was helpless and angry. I questioned my commitment. I questioned if I am good enough to be by your side. I know that Mona does not like me and that Patrick does not approve of me being with you, and their words still managed to hurt me and to make me doubt our relationship. I was spiraling downward into helplessness because if I can't protect myself from the people I know are malicious, hidden enemies will tear me apart, and as such… I am not good enough for you."

Max felt as if someone stabbed his heart. Instead of blaming him, she was doubting herself. Only Liz can be so amazing. He didn't want to talk about Mona or Patrick, because the only ones that matter are the two of them: Liz and Max.

He moved so that he can see her face and his eyes locked onto hers with the hope that she will recognize his sincerity.

"Elizabeth, my love, I told you tonight and I mean it: you are perfect. The non-worthy one is me. Please, no matter what others say, don't doubt yourself. You are the life of my love because, without you, my love does not exist. You are my everything."

Liz smiled. "And you are my everything. I was feeling bad and sinking deeper, and then you showed up and told me that we will deal with the problem together. I didn't know what the solution will be, but I felt your support and that I'm not alone, and I trusted that you will fix it. And you did. You are amazing and I admire you very much. And I am sorry that for those few endless minutes I forgot that we are a team."

Max was glad that they are talking about this openly, and he wanted her to know that she was not passive. "Thank you for dealing with Isaac when he came to ask for an explanation."

"My dad is easy to handle."

"For you. I see him as my biggest challenge." Max admitted.

"Shouldn't I be your biggest challenge?"

"No. We are a team, facing challenges together. You are the woman I love, and the only thing I need to do in order to make you happy is to listen to my heart." Max murmured and then his lips covered hers.

Max was getting deeper into the sweet arousal when Liz bit his lip hard and the sharp pain told him that she drew blood.

He groaned. "What was that for?"

"I was a bad girl, and you need to punish me."

Max was not sure if Liz wants to be spanked, or something else, but his anger because she bit him disappeared within a second. "What is on your mind?"

"I want you to… be rough."

Max's eyebrow twitched. They made love many times before, but it was always gentle, passionate, and he made sure not to make her feel any discomfort or pain. However, this is the first time Liz made any demands and it's normal that she is curious and for some reason, he felt his erection stretching his pants more than usually and he could not believe how that one small demand got his body to react. She wants it rough.

"Alright, sugar…"

Liz's eyes widened. Other than love and sweetheart, he would always call her Liz or Elizabeth and this 'sugar' sounded raw and unrestrained, like it came from Max she didn't know before.

"Get naked." Max commanded and Liz got out of his embrace, sat on her knees, and started removing her clothes.

Liz didn't know what to expect. But she knew that a man like Max probably needs more than a plain sex life, and even though there is an undeniable passion between them, Liz is plain and inexperienced, and she does not want him to look for other women because she is not enough.

Liz is aware that they are a good match in terms of many things, but she fears that their bed chemistry is lacking. Max is the one who determines when and how they do it, and she does not object because everything he does is amazing, but she has a feeling that he is holding back because of her.

Tonight, Liz was reminded that there are many other women who will please him eagerly and that she can lose him unless she steps up her game.

Liz remembered Max's lit-up expression when once she came out of the closet wearing only her doctor's coat and that confirms how Max is looking for something different.

Of course, this is not new, and Liz previously reached out to her advisor related to bedroom topics. Brianna instructed Liz to get out of her comfort zone and to try different things, and here she is… trying.

Liz could not believe that her fingers are shaky. From anticipation, probably.

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