wayward_hunter (wayward_hunter) wrote in mysteria_rpg, @ 2009-01-02 20:19:00 |
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Current mood: | anxious |
Have you seen this woman?
After getting permission from Jeremy, Connor set about finding Max. He had no idea where he was going, just headed to her place in Mysteria to catch her scent, any sign that he could have of finding her. She was with a Pack, he knew that much, so he headed to the nearest local one that he could find. No luck. He traveled closer to Fargo, where he found the Pack who had been kind enough to bury Teddy, but no sign of Max.
"Last I saw, she was headed to the city. A good place to get lost in," One of the wolves told Connor. He nodded and followed the trail that the pack wolves used to find their way around Fargo.
It was a simple little Motel 8 that Max was staying in. She had been running low on money and it was the most she could afford. It was just as well. At least there was no one to bother her hear. She had put up the do not disturb sign so housekeeping wouldn't bother her while she had her break down.
Pure force of will had brought Max back out of the dreamworld and back into the real world. She had tried moving from the corner she had sunk down in but in the end had been too tired to move and have just streched out on the floor instead.
Connor hated the city. He already missed the clean air and the stretches of land before you got to another person. Still, keeping Max's scent in his head, he carried on, searching motel to motel, asking anyone if they had seen her. He finally got lucky at a seedy motel deep downtown. Farther away from nature as he could get. It was probably the allure for Max. Farther away from things that reminded her of her brother.
"Have you seen her?" He asked the hotel clerk, holding out a picture of Max he had found at her place. The clerk just rolled his eyes. "You're kiddin' right? I see people all the time. I may remember better if my wallet were a bit fuller..."
Connor hated the city. But he hated blackmail more. Grabbing the man's wrist, he growled, "Think. Harder. I'll wait. I have time. You on the other hand, now that's a different story." His eyes shifted yellow. By then the clerk was already crying out in pain from Connor's grip, but his pain seemed to be forgotten when he caught his eyes. Pure fear emanated from the man as he nodded. "Room 343! Just get her and go!"
Throwing the man back in disgust, Connor took the key to the room from behind the counter and nearly ran up to the Max's room. "Max? Max, are you in here?" He asked worriedly, his eyes scanning the room.
For a moment, Max was sure she was hearing things. That only made sense right? Not eating and very little sleep could do that to a person. Then she realized she wasn't hearing things and that she wasn't in the room alone. "Connor," she managed to croak out in question.
"Max," Connor sighed in relief as he followed her in the bedroom she was curled up in. She looked near death. He went to her immediately and said, "I told you I'd miss you." He brushed her hair back from her face, so pale and withdrawn. He wanted to take her to the hospital, but figured she'd only go kicking and screaming. If that's what it took...
"Max? Max, you need a doctor. Come back with me, I can call an angel friend of mine," He promised. Well friend was a loose term, but he knew Hope would at least listen if he was desperate enough to call her. He held her in his arms for a moment though, needing to feel that she was okay. She was real. She was with him.
"You found me," Max whispered as she rested her head against his chest. She had been afraid that it had all been something that her mind had made up. That it hadn't really happened and Connor wasn't really real. Or rather the Connor she had knew in the dreamworld anyway.
It took everything she had to lift her head up so she could look at him. "I'll go back with you. Just don't leave me alone," she pleaded.
Connor shook his head, the thought of leaving her never even crossing his mind. He held her close for a long moment before saying, "Never," He swore, "I won't leave you. Come on, we need to get you some food and water before you faint," He said, carrying her easily into the living room. She was so delicate, so breakable, he was worried he would hurt her with his strength. He was very careful with her though, and set her down in his line of sight while he got her water. There was no food there, so he would have to get her something on the road.
Turning her head, Max watched Connor as he got the water. Even as thirsty as she was, she hadn't even once thought of getting up and getting some herself. As much as she needed the help, she suddenly hated the fact that she was such a mess and needed the help. She wasn't normally this weak of a person and she could only hope he knew that.
He did. The more he was around Max, the more memories flooded back of her, chasing after Teddy, seeing her roll with the best of them. This wasn't the usual Max. He just hoped he could help retain that person she used to be. Coming back with her water, he said, "Okay, I want to see the bottom of that glass, deal?"
Max frowned at the glass but nodded her head as she took the glass. At least she was thinking enough and took sips instead of downing it on her empty stomach. Now that she had something to drink she didn't sound froggy when she spoke. "Sorry, I must be really offensive to your nose right now."
Connor chuckled a bit. "Don't worry about me or my nose. I'm more worried about you," He said earnestly, stroking back her hair from her face. He wanted to see her eyes with his own. "You can apologize to my nose later," He winked at her. Slipping an arm around her back, he waited while she finished drinking, resting his head against hers.
Reaching over Max slipped her free hand into his. "I was afraid it wasn't real. I thought maybe I had finally lost it. But I clung on to the thought of you anyway, hoping," she said as she worked on finishing the glass of water. "You know, if I have to pee after this cause you insist on me drinking it all, it's you that has to carry me to the bathroom."
Connor squeezed her fragile hand, looking down as he threaded his fingers in hers. "I was hoping too," He said quietly, then lifted her hand to kiss the back of it. The seriousness was broken with her statement and he nodded, "If it means you're getting better, I don't care if I have to carry you to the ends of the earth, just to pee. Speaking of, do you have to go before we go home? I want you to come back to the Pack with me," He said, not even realizing what he said before the words tumbled out of his mouth, but didn't regret them at all. Connor did a lot of things, but lying wasn't his forte.
"I don't and I'd like that," Max replied. The thing Max liked about dreams so in them she got the chance to see who a person really was. You couldn't hide the real you in a dream. It's how she had known for sure that Teddy was lost to her. And it was how, having seen the Connor that no one else did, that she knew what it meant for him to say that.
"Good, because I'm carrying you out of here now," Connor stated, leaving no room for argument, and simply picked her up and left, shutting the door behind them. He held her close to him, and murmured, "You won't mind? Being back there?" 'With me', he almost added, but thought better of it. He didn't know what he was feeling, but he didn't want it to stop. He hadn't felt this way since...well since Alicia. Protective and free at once, something he had rarely had since their death. It always had felt like he was hiding, waiting for the next moment it would all shatter around him.
"You're so strong Max," He sighed, almost in awe of it, and you could hear it in his tone, "You make me want to be as strong as you are." For you.
Max gently shook her head. "If I had to go back to the house I would mind. As long as I'm with you, I can handle it," she answered, also answering his unspoken question without knowing it. She snuggled against his chest as he carried her. Somehow being in his arms felt right. Like she was supposed to fit there.
"I'm not strong," she protested. "If I was, I wouldn't be in the shape I'm in."
Connor closed his eyes briefly, soaking her in for just that moment. It was comforting, knowing he was trusted, needed. He hoped she knew how much that meant to him. If not, he would tell her. He would tell her every day until she grew sick of hearing it. He felt her fit herself into his embrace and looked down at her, not missing a step. Her eyes were dark and endless, just like he had dreamed they were.
He scoffed at that. "You're alive, you're here, and you're fighting. That makes you probably the strongest person I've ever met. It's more than I would have done had I been you. I- I didn't handle my family's death well. When I came to Jeremy, I was...beyond broken. It took me a long time to heal again."
"I wasn't fighting," she pointed out. Managing to left her arm, Max slid her hand around the back of Connor's neck. "Then I stumbled into your dream and it's because of you that I tried too. If it had been anyone else's dream, someone who couldn't have understood, I don't think I would have been able to put the pieces back together."
"You're fighting now," Connor reminded her, "You could have told me to leave. I wouldn't have listened, but you could have said it. You could have gotten angry when I came and imposed on your grief. But you didn't. You're not." He placed her in the truck and ran around to the drivers side. "You're much stronger than you think. I'll do anything Max, but I won't lie. I promise."
"That makes two of us then. I'm not one for the lying. I've been told a time or two that I'm too blunt," Max said, offering Connor a weak smile. She managed to scoot herself over in the seat so that she could lean against him. "I think it's cause in our dreams, there's no lies. If only it was like that out here."
Connor lifted his arm around her, scooting her closer. She fit so right against him. "That makes two of us. I'm not the beta for nothing, you know? I don't have the finesse that Jeremy does. I could never. But I like that. Don't change it." He asked and began to drive away, picking up speed. They were a bit away from Mysteria. He just hoped that she would be okay for the trip.
"I wish it were that way here. But part of the risk of living is never knowing about a person's nature. You have to be patient, discover it for yourself. Like, for instance, you may have been in my dreams and my head, but you don't know all of me yet. Like, I'm bossy. And arrogant sometimes. And I hog the covers," He grinned.
Max laughed at that. "I think I've already noticed the bossy part," she teased. "Luckily for you, I tend to toss the covers so I won't have to kick your ass out of bed for taking them all. And I hate getting up in the mornings. Plus, I'm horrible when it comes to money. I'm forever giving in and buying something I don't need."
Connor smiled playfully. "Noticed that did you? Well, I see your 'bad when it comes to money' and raise you, messy. I've got my papers and books and clothes everywhere, but oddly, I know where they all are. I'm a cultural research anthropologist," He explained, "Which is code for dork under an excruciatingly handsome exterior. Did I mention arrogant sometimes?"
"No really though, and I get to involved in my work, and I have kind of a reputation for not loving the humans so much," He said, squeezing her lightly, "But you're not exactly an ordinary human, are you?"
"Is it being arrogant when you're right," Max teased. "At least you know where everything is in your mess. My clothes spend more time on the floor than in a closet and I always seem to manage to lose my keys in it all. Also, I'm kinda bad when it comes to the junk food. Never send me to the store. It's all I come back with."
Max's heart warmed as Connor squeezed her. "What? You mean not everyone goes wandering through the dreams of others?"
"I don't think it is, but everyone else...damn are they hard to convince that I'm always right," Connor joked back. "I only know because if I don't, I lose my grants and can't go to my classes. I teach them, not attend," He explained, then gave out an ironic laugh, "Imagine that. A guy who can barely stand humans, who isn't even slightly human, going before them every day to show them their own history. Talk about ironic, right?"
"The junk food thing? That just means we should go shopping together," Connor said matter of factly, "Which we will be doing in a few moments." Just then, he pulled into the local drive-thru and said, "Order up. I'm demanding you at least try to eat. See? Bossy bastard, that's me."
Max groaned and hide her face against Connor's arm. The smell of food managed to make her stomach rumble and yet at the same time the thought of it just made her sick. There was a pout on her lips as she lifted her back up. "Blah. I don't care. Just order...something. I'll manage to eat it somehow."
Connor smirked triumphantly and got them both something to eat, but not really hungry himself. He just wanted to be sure Max had enough. Parking her carried her out into the fresh air, and sat her down on the grass in the park nearby. "You'll be okay Max," He said softly, tucking her hair behind her ear.
Nodding, Max looked up and into Connor's eyes for a moment before she turned her attention to the food. Pulling out a fry she nibbled it giving her long empty stomach a chance to adjust to having something in it again. "How is everyone? Brooke and Anna? Gideon?" Brooke had been a good friend to Teddy. And Gideon. Well Gideon was Gideon and she doubted that was going to change anytime soon.
"Brooke and Anna are great. She insists that Anna isn't my kid, but don't worry, I'll win her over eventually," Connor grinned. "And Gideon...is well, Gideon. He's got his own kid now, did you know?" He asked, watching her as she ate, but not so much to make her uncomfortable. He took a bite of his fries as well, just for her sake.
"No. Sounds like I left before the good stuff happened." She had to wonder as she unwrapped the sandwich if Gideon would give her back her job. If not she supposed she could always got back to working at the morgue. Max did some watching of her own and noticed how more relaxed Connor seemed. "I was surprised he came to such a big city. I suppose it was because more prey and less noticeable."
Connor smiled a little. "She's a mini of him, at least as far as I know. All of sixteen, maybe seventeen and hellfire. He can take it." He inhaled the fresh air and nodded. "Probably. I remember living in the city when I went to college and feeling constantly suffocated. There were so many scents and new things around, even I got lost in them. It would be easy to lose yourself."
Max nodded as she took a bite of her sandwich. It should have been hard for her to talk about it but somehow with Connor it wasn't. "Maybe some part of him wanted to get lost." It was part of the reason she had left right after. It was so easy to get lost here. "So tell me, why the human hating?"
Connor was quiet for a moment, trying to think of how to word it correctly. "I suppose because they're more animal then we can ever be. Scared of anything different. They kill just for the sake of it. No purpose or reason. Just to kill. You remember the little girl in my dream? The others? That was my family. They were killed by hunters. Not supernatural ones, just regular men who wanted to kill something. Big game, they called them. At least that's what I'm told. I wasn't there to save them," He said matter of factly. It was true. He should have been there. If he had...maybe their blood wouldn't be on his hands.
That was something Max could understand. Even without Connor telling her about his family she got it. After all, she seen what people really had in their subconscious. "You were able to save me though and I thank you for it," Max offered before taking another bite. She didn't cry over Connor's loss. Didn't say she was sorry. She just simply understood what it felt like.
He was grateful. Connor had heard sorry from everyone. It had lost all meaning, now just words that didn't make sense. Max being here, that was real comfort. Her staying strong, wanting to stay with him. That meant something. "Like I said, you're stronger than you give yourself credit for. I was just lucky you happened to stumble in my dream. How does that feel anyway? Are you dreaming it like I was, or is it more vivid?"
"Not so much as more vivid as it is more real. All the strange colors and everything else people dream are still there but it's just another state of being for me. Dreamwalkers don't have our own dreams so we sleep, it's like another part of us goes off wandering," Max tried to explain. Then she looked at Connor. "It's hard to put into words. Kinda like if I asked you to tell me what it was like to shift."
Nodding, Connor looked down at her, curling her against his lap. "I wouldn't be able to explain it if I tried. So I can understand that," He remarked, still marveling at how easy things like opening up, being himself, just calm emotions seemed to overtake him in her presence. It was totally foreign territory that he wanted to spend ages exploring. "People, mostly bittens, they've asked what it was like for me before I shifted, as if there was a time. I've always been a wolf, I can't imagine what it's like not being one. Is it the same way? Has it always been like this, or did it start slow?"
"I've been 'walking since I was five so I don't really a remember a time before then. A lot was walkers don't start until their older but I guess the stress of Teddy being attacked just set it off. Other that or I was determined that he wasn't going to leave me behind by being different," Max mused. While one hand popped another french fry into her mouth, her other hand couldn't help but seek out Connor's.
Squeezing it lightly, reassuringly, Connor brought their joined hands around her, snuggling her close and resting his head on her shoulder. He wasn't so hungry anymore, not that he had been in the first place. "I can see that. You're special, and it's unfair of the world to think you just an ordinary human. Besides, the things you've seen in your life? I'd be almost jealous if I didn't know how awful it could be." He nuzzled her temple and sighed. He wished she hadn't had to go through that, but what didn't kill you made you stronger, and she had it in spades. He could feel it.
Max snuggled back against Connor and stopped eating for the moment, simply enjoying being held. The sigh that pasted her lips was one of content meant. "Why doesn't this feel as strange as it should? It seems like it should be strange, but instead it just feels...right." Like she fit perfectly in his arms.
Connor smiled wryly, "I was gonna ask you the same thing. I could go all Professor Abrams on you and say it's because we've connected at a subconscious level, but that's a lie, isn't it? It's more. But how, I don't know. You're the only person I'll admit to not knowing everything to," He added with a chuckle, then brushed her hair aside and kissed her forehead. He had an idea, but wondered if it was even possible. Maybe it wasn't. It didn't matter either way, he was here now.
"Mmm Professor Abrams. You know that gives me a few ideas," Max teased even though she wasn't up for such things just yet. The fact that he'd admit to not knowing made her smile. "I've lived in Mysteria all my life except for when I went to college and you've been there a while now and now all of a sudden...I guess timing is everything." She turned her head enough so that she could look at him. "You know what I could really, really go for?"
"I think I'm going to like your ideas," Connor grinned, but knew her body was still far too delicate for that. He was content to just hold her close, and the fact that he was even thinking about such things really told him something. With most women, he'd try a date or two, maybe a run, then leave. He hadn't really been intimate since Alicia.
He liked the look in her eyes as she asked him that. He arched an eyebrow and smirked, "Yeah? What's that?" Dipping his head, he brushed her cheekbones with his lips, willing to give her anything she requested. Another rarity for him.
Max let out a sigh as Connor's lips brushed over her skin. Now she was getting other ideas but the first was still stuck in her mind. "A bath," she breathed out. She hadn't had one since...well...probably since the last time she had ate and right now soaking in a hot tub sounded really nice.
Connor grinned, and said, "We still have quite a ways until we get to Mysteria. How about I check us into a hotel and call Hope from the road? I don't know if she can come or recommend someone, but I want someone I trust seeing you," He said, snuggling his arms around her protectively. He didn't want just any doctor looking after her.
"I think I saw a B&B back there. A nice one, the kind that you escape to get to. Sound like a plan to you? If there's no hot tub, we'll nix the whole idea," He added with a smirk.
Max nodded. Getting cleaned up and some rest before she faced Mysteria sounded like a good idea. Even with Connor by her side she knew it would be a while before she could go anywhere in town and not see Teddy. "I like that plan," she agreed.
Seeing she was obviously done eating, Connor quickly cleaned up their lunch and scooped her up. "This is totally for my benefit," He added to her so she wouldn't feel like she was being babied, "I kinda like carrying you around if you don't mind." He kissed her forehead again and settled her in the car, then got in the drivers side himself. He double backed until they hit the B&B, wondering what the owners would think if he carried her in. She obviously needed attention, but wasn't getting it from anyone but someone Connor trusted.
"Okay, I'm going to pretend to let you walk," He told her, not being bossy at all, "I'll be carrying you around the side, but you tell me if I hurt you okay?"
As Connor carried her around Max didn't complain. Mostly as she liked being in his arms. She had snuggled back up against him in the truck and when they reached the B&B and he started giving orders she just raised an eyebrow instead of complaining. "Right. Got it. Stomp on your toe if you hurt me." Smiling, she gave him a wink.
"Hard, with a steel toed boot if you can managed it," Connor teased back. He knew he was bossy sometimes, but couldn't help it. It was especially true for people he cared about. He walked them up to the counter and the nice woman asked if they were there on their honeymoon, and Connor smiled. "No, just in need of a night away from the kids. Right honey?" Okay, he was bad and he knew it.
"Right dear," Max replied before looking up at Connor with the best doe eyes she could manage. "Can't get a moment to ourselves otherwise. I told we should have stopped at three but he just begged me go for four." The whole time she talked she kept her eyes on Connor.
Connor kept his eyes locked on hers as well, sparkling with amusement. "What can I say? Sometimes I think we shouldn't have stopped even then," He grinned, "What with that smile and personality of yours, I want all the rest to be just like you."
"Oh," The woman sighed, "It's so great to see a couple young and in love. Here's your room key, and you get some rest while you can love, you look a bit exhausted. Long trip?" She asked nicely.
"In a way," Connor smiled at the woman when she gave him their key and scooped Max up. "If my lovely bride doesn't mind, I think I ought to carry you up the stairs. Do you?" There were several and he didn't want to worry about Max falling. Besides, she fit so right against him, it was becoming second nature.
"I don't mind at all," Max replied, smiling. She even streched up and wrapped her arms around Connor's neck so she'd already be hanging on when he picked her up. She waited until they were up the stairs and out of earshot before laughing. "We're awful."
Laughing as well, he managed to say, "Yeah, we really are. Four kids honey?" He set her on the bed and lingered over her, still smiling. "You're nothing short of amazing Maxine Parker." He didn't move away at first, just drank her in for a moment. Gently trailing a finger down her cheek, he sighed softly. "Okay, time for that bath," He teased to lighten the mood some. He was getting in so deep, yet he didn't care. Probably for the first time.
"Four sounded like a good number," she teased. Max stared up at Connor as he touched her cheek. He wasn't the only one getting in deep. Max had never once in her life thought about settling down and yet now it seemed natural to be with Connor. "Bath is good. Think they got bubbles?"
Helping her into the bathroom, Connor said, "We're about to find out. Um..." he was suddenly flushed. Nudity was natural among his kind, but he never thought of people in the pack as someone he would mate with, or had the potential to. They all just knew, Connor wasn't interested. Now he was, and he didn't know quite what to do. He took the guest terry robe and handed it to her, running the water. "I'll give you your privacy," He said sweetly, cursing himself.
"Connor," Max started, looking at him. "Stay." She didn't want to be alone and figured she'd need the help anyway. For reasons she couldn't explain, she trusted Connor and knew he wouldn't try anything right now even if she wanted to. "What if I fall asleep in the tub?" She smiled as she asked.
Laughing a little, he nodded, "Of course. I just wasn't sure," He ran his fingers through his hair and bit his lip. Kneeling beside her, he took off her shoes, the met her eyes. So lovely, dark and endlessly dark, but warm, inviting. He was used to brown being flat, ritual, boring. Not so with Max. He couldn't take his eyes from her as he helped her out of her shoes, and slid his hands over to her hips. He lifted her to her feet, staring down at her.
Even as tired as she was, her body couldn't help but react just a little bit. Especially when he looked at her like that. Her eyes only broke away from his when she pulled her t-shirt off over her head. She had done decided that once she felt better she was keeping him in bed...for a week at least.
Connor's breath hitched and he tried not to admire how beautiful she was, the difficult thing that that was. She was exquisite. Perfect in every way. He could just imagine going to her, touching that silky skin, kissing her so deeply...
He shook himself from his reverie and sighed deeply. "Okay, now in, before I do something stupid," Connor said heavily, his eyes dark with lust.
The look in his eyes and the sound of his voice sent a shiver down Max's spine even as she stepped into the warm water. Sinking down into it she couldn't help but moan as the warmth enveloped her and sunk in. "Oh that feels good." Neither thing she realized was probably helping poor Connor at the moment.
Indeed she wasn't. Connor had to look away, take a few deep breaths before he could open them again. Connor went to her, grabbed the shampoo and began to lather it in his hands, massaging her scalp. He was torturing himself and he knew it, but at the very least would give her her pleasures, what he could. Her body was too weak for anything other than care and that's all he wanted for her really.
Max had to bite her lip not to moan again. She had never had a guy wash her hair for her and was amazed at how good it felt. She sunk just a little farther into the water while Connor worked and closed her eyes while a soft sigh escaped her lips. "That's nice," she murmured.
Connor massaged slow circles into her scalp, tilting her head back and then cupping some warm water, washing it out. He got more soap and watched it fall on her shoulder, trailing it off with his fingertip. He sighed again. "It is," He agreed, "When I get you home we'll do this again," He promised. He liked the sound of that. Of home, with her there.
"Only if you're in the tub with me next time," Max said, liking the sound of it too. Even though she was going back to Mysteria she was getting to start over again. She was getting to start over with Connor and she liked the thought of that. Living in the pack wouldn't be a problem for her. Not only had she watched out for Teddy all these years but Brooke had taught her something also whenever she was around visiting.
Connor splashed the water and whispered, "Promise." He stooped down until he was eye level with her, tracing the lines of her face tenderly. He didn't understand the feelings coursing through him, only that Max was it now. His reason. The simple knowledge was so bold, so real, he was nearly overcome with it. Cupping her cheek gently, he kissed her lips, slow and softly. He sucked her lower lip gently before kissing the corners of her lips, and ran a hand down her neck, over her shoulder.
Breaking away breathlessly, Connor stared into her eyes, wondering if he had gone too far. Talking was one thing, but doing was quite another. He ran his fingers back up to her cheeks and whispered, "Max..."
Max was so gone the moment Connor kissed her. "Connor," she whispered back, her eyes searching his for a moment before her lips sought out his. She had never felt like this before, not from a simple kiss. For a moment she was actually surprised there wasn't fireworks going off somewhere.
Pulling back, she reached up and ran her thumb over Connor's bottom lip while her eyes stayed locked to his. Her eyes said how much she wanted him plus something else. Something that was growing with each moment she spent with him.
Reading the welcome in her eyes, Connor dipped his head for another kiss, beginning gently, then growing with passion. He caressed her tongue with his, exploring her mouth. He felt like he was finally coming home after being lost for so long.
Reaching up, Max wrapped her wet arms around Connor's neck as she kissed him back. Soft whimpers sounded in the back of her throat as she did. Part of her was tempted to drag him into the water with her.
Connor's lips fell upon hers so perfectly, as if they were designed for one another, he couldn't get enough. He reached in the water, pulling her close to him, not caring that they were both getting water everywhere. It was too much, it wasn't enough, and he was desperate for more.
Too desperate. He could feel his control slipping and abruptly stopped kissing her, breathing raggedly, his forehead pressed against hers. "Max..Max," He sighed over and over, feeling her smooth skin under his fingertips. He looked down at her and said softly, "Soon. I promise you, soon."
Max nodded gently as she tried to catch her breath. She couldn't remember ever wanting, or needing, someone this badly before. Just his kiss alone made her toes curl. "Soon," she agreed once she was able to speak again.
Connor nodded as well, and took a deep breath before handing her the soap. "I think I can only take so much," He smiled a little, looking away from those amazing eyes of hers that just drew him in, "You have to give me some credit," He added teasingly, ducking down and splashing the water around with the tips of his fingers, "I'm literally with the woman of my dreams, and she's exactly how I, or any man for that matter, could hope for, and chaste as a nun. Life is just not fair," He grinned.
"I am not chaste as a nun," Max argued before playfully splashing water at him. "I just haven't been having a good week, maybe weeks, is all." Taking the soap and grabbing a washcloth, she started to lather it up before running the cloth over her skin rather slowly. Okay so maybe she was trying to torture him just a little bit.
"Minx," Connor muttered, watching her with wolfish eyes. "And who said I was talking about you huh?" He raised an eyebrow, curious about what she would think about that. Connor hadn't really been with a woman since his fiance. He had tried, but it ended miserably. Nearly growling, he took the soap and washrag from her, doing the honors himself. At least he could give them that. He was very slow, careful in his ministrations, taking his time exploring her skin. He tilted his head, imagining doing it in other ways and shook himself mentally. Ever since he had met Max, he went totally guttural. Like a man would think of his mate....
"You know, I don't think you'd look all that good in a habit but hey, if that's what does it for ya," Max teased. It was hard to stay still as Connor bathed her. She wanted to arch up under his hands as they ran the cloth over her skin but she knew that wouldn't be fair to either one of them right now. Instead she rolled her head back and let out a soft sigh.
"Are you kidding? I look good in anything," Connor teased. He repressed another sigh as he finished washing her hair and her back, but didn't go any further. He knew his limits and that was it. "I'll go get you a towel," He murmured and stood up after a moment to be sure he wouldn't embarrass himself. He wondered if she had even liked the kiss, he was so out of practice.
"I'm sure you do. Me, I look even better in anything. I especially took hot in a towel," Max said while Connor was getting her one. Standing up was slow going. The last thing she needed was for her legs to give out in the tub. Once she was finally standing up, she waited until Connor was closer before stepping out just in case she fell.
"Prove it," Connor smirked at first, holding out the towel, then nearly running to Max's side when he saw her get up by herself. "Slow down, pace yourself," He whispered, catching her completely in the towel. He curled her up and held onto her for a moment, rubbing her arms, and then led her back to the bedroom, but let her actually walk. She would have to get used to it again sometime after all.
"Slow, easy steps and tell me if it's too much," Connor said, not quite demanding, but definitely not asking. He cared far too much about her welfare to endanger it with pushing her too far, too fast.
Even as much as she wanted to do things for herself, Max was glad that she didn't have that much farther to go before she reached the bed. She didn't waste no time sinking down on it once she reached. "I'm okay," she reassured Connor. She had to wonder if all wolves were as fussy as he was. She also had to admit that she found it endearing.
"You're malnourished and overtired," Connor amended. "You should sleep while I call Hope. And if she cracks jokes, ignore the violence that ensues, okay?" He winked, "You need anything before I go call her?" He couldn't help it. He was worried for her. Brushing a wet piece of her hair away from her face, he brushed her lips lightly with his again before sitting up to look her in the eyes.
"No, I'm good. I'm just gonna snuggle under the covers and rediscover what a bed is," Max replied while looking back at him. She wanted him to crawl into bed with her but knew there'd be no talking him into until he made his phone call. "Try not to kill the phone while you use it." She gave him a wink of her own.
"It's not the phone, it's the angel-" Eyeroll, "-On the other side I worry about killing. Wh- Yes, Doctor Cale please? Tell her it's Connor Abrams....no, I want to talk to the woman. You know, tall blonde with a medical degree and a snarky attitude?" He asked the nurse who immediately transferred him over.
"Connor. So I'm snarky now? My, my, it's nice to meet you Kettle. I'm Pot," She smirked into the phone. Connor rolled his eyes and mouthed to Max, 'This is what I meant', nearly forgetting that she couldn't hear Hope. He was so used to having people with wolf senses around.
"Hope, I hate to call and you know it. So would I do it unless it was an emergency?" That got her attention. She calmed Connor down, telling him that the girl wasn't going to drop before she got to Mysteria. "Bring her to me when you get here, but Connor, I can't leave my patients. If you're that worried, you can take her to a local-"
"No." He didn't trust them, it was that simple.
Hope sighed. "Fine, fine. Just hurry and get here and I'll see her, alright? She'll be fine, just keep doing what you're doing." Connor disconnected without so much as a thank you or a good bye, just a soft look at Max. "She said you'll be okay, just to get you to her when we get home. As much as I can't stand saying so, Hope's a good doctor. So how about you get some sleep and then we head back home?"
"See, I told you I was fine," Max said, smiling. She snuggled among the pillows, watching Connor as she did. "If you're that worried though I could try sleeping in the truck." The look in her eyes was inviting him to come crawl into her bed with her.
The invitation in her eyes was all he needed. He snuggled beside her and murmured, "I wouldn't dream of it. Just rest, she'll be here soon enough." He stroked her hair, resting his head against hers, breathing in her scent. Her scent, completely undiluted with those thick perfumes that blocked her actual scent. "Tell me how you're feeling," He said, kissing her knuckles.
Max smiled and snugged up against Connor. "Warm, fuzzy, safe, secure." Maybe even loved. "Or did you mean psychically," she teased. "I feel better. I feel like a living being again. Just tired."
"I meant everything," Connor said, bringing her body next to his. He nuzzled her neck and brought an arm around her. "Try and sleep. I'll wake you when Hope gets here, okay?"
"Okay," Max said as she snuggled in Connor's arms and got comfortable, her hand resting on his chest. After a moment she allowed her eyes to close and she slipped off to sleep.