Max didn't say anything while Liz was shopping, but now that he saw Liz getting numerous wooden sculptures from the bag and arranging them on the coffee table, he wondered if she got souvenirs for everyone in the Franciscan Medical Center, patients included.
"Who all is getting presents from our vacation?", Max asked cautiously.
"Our friends and family.", Liz responded earnestly. "These three are for us. I love the workmanship on this mask. As for the others… The smaller ones are souvenirs from Jamaica and the big ones we will wrap and hand them as Christmas presents. I have for your parents, Hunter and Mia, Rina and Ashton, Bri and Quentin…", Liz spoke while pointing at the sculptures. "…this one is for my dad and this one is for Foxy and Rhonda… Olivia and Mike… Dr. Kaviraj…"
Max scrutinized the array of wooden sculptures that Liz arranged on the table. "These for Christmas? As presents?"
"Is there something wrong with these?", Liz asked innocently.
Max's expression told her that something IS wrong.
Liz exhaled and plopped on the sofa next to Max. "I don't really do presents. It's usually me and my dad. For Christmas, we would go somewhere new, and that's it. There was never a point in gifting things for Christmas because we buy things that we need when we need them during the year and neither of us likes useless knick-knacks. But now is different and I'm sure that your mom will prepare something, so I can't go emptyhanded. And if I get something for your parents I need to get for others as well. Ah, this is hard… and this is a disaster…"
Liz hid her face in her palms.
Max wrapped his arms around Liz.
"This is not a disaster…", Max tried to comfort Liz, feeling guilty that he said anything. He didn't want to discourage her and to ruin the mood. But how can he fix it?
"It's important that you got them something. It does not matter what it is."
Liz didn't believe him. "It should be something a person will use. How can I pick meaningful presents? I'm horrible at this."
"Don't think that people get useful things. Considering the history of receiving Christmas gifts from my mother, you will get sleepwear. Every year I get a fleece pajama with reindeers or something else Christmas-y on it."
Liz stifled a laugh at the mental image of Max with reindeers on him. "A pajama? I never saw you wearing one."
Max made a face. "I have one with reindeers from last year… it's somewhere deep in my closet, never to be found…"
Max liked that Liz said 'we' and he didn't want to tell her that he never bought Christmas presents for anyone so far. In their family, it was always Madeline buying things for everyone, but with Liz by his side, that will change because she said 'we'.
The idea of Liz and him getting Christmas presents for others as a couple, excited him more than he could imagine… and he got an idea.
Max swiftly moved and a few seconds later, he returned with a laptop in his hand.
"Let's shop online. We can see what is trending and pick from there… Things can be delivered to our apartment. Joshua will hold them for us until we are back…"
Liz liked Max's plan. He always has wonderful plans. Ah, her boyfriend is the best!
They spent the rest of the afternoon shopping online while snacking on fresh fruits.
…
Later that evening…
Max and Liz got out of the cab at the address Justin and Devan provided them as the best place on the island for dinner.
It was a bar-like setting with tables and chairs, but it was open toward the sandy beach. Of course, the reggae music was blasting, and a number of people were sitting on the sand in groups and chatting. The atmosphere was lively.
"Max! Liz!" Justin called while waving vigorously. "We got a table!"
Max and Liz joined Justin and Devan who were there with their dates, Amelia and Jada.
Liz noticed that Amelia and Jada are not the same girls Justin and Devan were with last night; she decided not to bring it up.
It didn't take long for their table to be filled with delicious food. It smelled appetizing and it tasted even better.
The mood was good and other than discussing the food, Justin and Devan spoke about the island and their adventures.
Liz enjoyed the meal and smiled. Justin and Devan are friendly guys, and Amelia and Jada are nice as well.
This was Liz's first time to go on a vacation and make friends, and she was confident that it's because of Max.
Liz would usually travel with her father, so not many people would approach her, and she was never the one to take the initiative because she is socially awkward. A few times when she went with Mia and Brianna, Liz was always on guard because she thought of herself as a grownup in their group. But now, because Max is by her side, she can relax.
Liz looked at Max with sparkles in her eyes. She remembered some of their first interactions and how in the Black Rose nightclub she drank without a worry because she knew that Max was with her and that he will not allow anything bad to happen to her. She barely knew him, but Liz was confident that Max will protect her and that he will not do anything against her will.
Liz wondered if that was some sixth sense or maybe her heart was telling her that Max is the one. Liz's eyes widened at that thought and she felt her heart thundering against her chest. 'Max is the one? Like… THE one?'
"Are you OK?", Max asked while examining Liz's expression.
He noticed that she is shocked, and her face is red like a ripe tomato. "Did you eat something too spicy?"
Since Liz didn't respond, Max assumed that he is right, and he pushed the jug with beer toward Liz. "Wash it down with this…"
Liz grabbed the jug and downed its contents in one go.
Max chuckled. "It must be something really spicy." He waved at the waiter, asking for more drinks.
Liz didn't eat after that, but she had two more beers and she was tipsy by the time Max asked: "Do you want to dance?"
Liz looked at the side and saw numerous people squeezing and grinding… it was similar to the scene from the previous night at the bar.
Liz took in a choppy breath when she remembered how arousing their dance was. "Is there a private bathroom?"
Max's eyes flashed with mischief when he understood that she is thinking about their wild lovemaking from the previous night in a small colorful bathroom.
"The beach is long and dark…"
He winked playfully and pulled Liz up from the chair before she got a chance to object.
The dance was like foreplay and Liz was intoxicated by the atmosphere, the loud music, beer circulating through her system, and Max.
Liz fisted Max's shirt and kissed him wildly while frustration swelled inside her because they can't get closer to each other.
"Let's find privacy…", Liz breathed.
Max was delighted to see that Liz is ready to rip his clothes off. "Do you want us to return to the resort?"
"I need something closer." Liz's eyes moved toward the beach.
Two minutes later, they were surrounded by the darkness, and Max was surprised by the force Liz pushed him down on the sand.
His arousal increased when he felt Liz's impatience as she unbuttoned his pants, and she didn't complain when he tore her panties. Ah, this is the best vacation ever!
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