BelongToMePt16-20

Chapter Sixteen

I paced my apartment all freaking day until I heard Kyle leave again. I ran outside and drove straight to the park. I followed the path we were running on and imagine that, a dip! A really big freaking dip right where my ass fell! Damn! Kyle Valenti displaying very non-human like actions, I think, although I couldn't exactly say for sure what the hell happened here this morning. Michael said the aliens wouldn't be old, they'd be younger. Is that why he sent me? Because he knew they'd be around my age?

I walked around the park for a little while until it was getting just too damn dark to see. I could have sworn someone was watching me and it was beginning to creep me out. I kept looking over my shoulder as I jogged back to the pony. I looked around for the flash of red hair and screeching voice, but there was nothing.

I drove out of the park and decided to play detective. I mean, if Kyle Valenti was indeed an alien, maybe the others might know something, right? I drove by Juno's bar and after noticing only one car in the lot, I kept going. I pulled up in front of the Crashdown, took a deep breath and went inside. I didn't see anyone familiar at first while I took a seat in a booth. Then I saw him as he slid in across from me. That Liz's boyfriend, Max. No, I think I'll call him Isabel's brother instead. I really liked Isabel.

"Max," I smiled and scanned my menu. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, just hanging around waiting for Liz," he motioned towards the back of the café. "Her parents are out of town for a couple days and she's playing manager."

"Don't you have anywhere else to be?" I asked with a smirk.

"Not really. So, Isabel told me you had a scare with a snake this morning. Everything okay?"

I nodded but I didn't really like the way he was asking. I almost felt guilty. Hmm… "Yeah, I never actually saw the snake, though."

"Well, you have to be careful around here. We have six different kinds of rattlesnakes in New Mexico." He nodded and I thought he would make a great teacher. "Just be on the lookout and I wouldn't go out there alone until you can identify them."

"I won't." I promised as the waitress came to take my order. Once again, I ordered something with a ridiculous name and was surprised when Max ordered dinner too.

"I haven't had dinner yet, do you mind if I join you?"

"Not at all." Cool, maybe I could pump him for information about Kyle. He seems like an okay guy when that Liz isn't around. "So, what do you do Max?"

"I work at my dad's law firm."

"Oh, you're going to be a lawyer too? Just like Liz?" Now I wanted to throw up.

"No, not exactly. I'm a research guy and I do some investigating for him."

Uh-oh. This could be bad depending on how much of an investigator Max Evans really is. "Really." I swallowed hard and hoped he didn't notice. Wait a second, why was I worried? I worked for Section and as far as I could tell, Section pretty much ruled the world. "You like it?"

"I love it," he smiled and I think I might be beginning to like him a little bit more. He did have a great smile. I caught that Liz watching from in back of the counter and actually fought the urge to lean over and french kiss him just for fun. What was it about her that made me like this?

Max began to ramble on about his job and my thoughts instinctively flew to Michael. Michael would be here tonight, woo-hoo! I couldn't wait to see him, to curl up with him, to smell him, to feel those soft and callousy hands on my skin. I noticed I had chocolate syrup in the fridge at the apartment; almost like someone had been reading my mind. I nodded along with whatever Max was saying and continued on my journey into Michaeldom. I knew he'd be there tonight; sure, he said he'd try, but I knew. I could feel it in my bones, among other places.

"Do you mind if I smoke?"

I looked at Max and almost laughed as he held a cigarette to his lips. He looked like a choirboy committing a sin. I shrugged and caught myself leaning forward to catch a whiff of smoke. Sometimes I really missed those things. I used to smoke a lot, but I quit when I went to prison. Strange, I think most people started once they got there, but I quit. Sure a drag here and there every once in awhile, but not a full cigarette in over four years.

"Ex-smoker?" He asked.

I nodded suddenly embarrassed. "I quit a long time ago but every once in awhile they smell so good." I closed my eyes and inhaled his smoke. Damn! I opened my eyes as his sister was at the edge of the table. She smiled and slid in next to Max. I watched her and the way she looked at him and felt very uncomfortable. I could tell she had something to tell him and she wouldn't because I was there. I excused myself to the restroom and turned around as their heads went together in deep conversation. Damn! Why didn't Section give me one of those little microphone thingys?

I walked a few steps towards the restroom and then ducked all ninja-like behind a wall. I peeked around the corner and watched the interaction between the Evans siblings. Max was pointing at her and Isabel looked like she was trying to defend herself with her hands up in front of her. She kept shaking her head and Max seemed to be getting more and more pissed off. I glanced around and saw that Liz watching me watch them, damn! I met her eyes and saw not jealousy or confusion, but fear. Fear?

Okay, this was turning into a whole new game now. Why fear? Was she one too, like Kyle? Or maybe I just stepped into some strange American Gothic type town where incest is best and the whole damn group is related and…Okay, take a deep breath DeLuca, chill out. I turned and walked into the bathroom and washed my hands. I tucked my hair behind my ears and adjusted my shirt to get maximum cleavage. I didn't want to flirt with Max Evans, but if need be to get some answers, then so be it. I was, after all, a professional.

I stepped back out of the bathroom, avoided that Liz, and went back to my table. Max and Isabel had ended their heated discussion and our dinner was on the table.

"Join us?" I asked Isabel.

"I can't, I'm just killing time. Alex's band's playing tonight and I don't like to show up too early." She explained and stole a fry off her brother's plate. "You should come, they're really good."

I thought about Michael coming in tonight and there was no way I was going to risk not being there when he got there. "I can't. I have some stuff to do at home." Oh yeah, that sounded believable. And did I just call Michael 'stuff'?

"Kyle said he was coming," Isabel winked and I blushed. Damn!

"Sorry, maybe next time. Let me know?"

"Of course," Isabel smiled and dug around in her purse. She pulled out paper and a pen and handed it to me. "Give me your number and we'll go shopping this week, cool?"

"Very," I scribbled a number thinking it was the right one and handed her the paper back. "Thanks."

"For what?" She asked as she stood up.

I shrugged and felt like I was in an after-school special. "For inviting me."

Isabel laughed and I noticed she had a beautiful smile. "You're very welcome! I'm glad you moved here Maria, it gets boring with the same old people all the time." She motioned towards the back of the café and leaned in closer to Max. "Be careful my brother, your keeper is watching!" She laughed haughtily and was gone in a blur of black, red and blond.

Max blushed and I ate my dinner. I watched as he poured, and I mean poured, Tabasco sauce all over his cheeseburger. He caught me staring. "I like things hot."

"So I see," I said in-between bites of a chicken salad sandwich.

"So, are you and Kyle, like, dating?" He asked with his eyebrows raised.

Nosy, much? "Uh…No, we're friends. He's really the first friend I've made here." I nodded and suddenly felt like I was under a microscope.

"Cool, he's a great guy." Max nodded and took a bite of his burger spilling red sauce down his chin. "If you decide to date him, you won't regret it. Like I said he's a great guy."

"And you're his cheerleader, why?"

"No reason," he smiled. "Just trying to make you feel at home in Roswell. Are you staying here for awhile?"

"I might, I don't have any family so I don't have anywhere else I need to be." Whoa, I see an opening. "So you and Isabel have always lived here, right?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Since we were adopted. I'm a little fuzzy on things before that."

Adopted? Didn't Isabel say they didn't drink because of alcoholism in the family? Strange things are afoot in Roswell. "Really." I finished my dinner and pushed my plate away. "I better go, I really do have stuff to do at home; but thanks for having dinner with me." I pulled money out of my purse and threw it on the table. "Bye Max." Okay, no flirting and a little information. Things were not adding up.

I left the Crashdown with one last look over my shoulder just in time to see that Liz taking my place at the table. I shook my head and got in my car and drove home to the flat. I didn't even look and see if Kyle was home. I didn't want to know. If he was an alien, then I was getting ready to turn him over to Section and God only knows what they were going to do to him. That was something I didn't want to think about.

When I got inside I stripped off my clothes and hopped in the shower, I wanted to smell raspberry fresh for Michael. It was almost eight by the time I got out. I grabbed my pretty nightgown from the back of the door and slid it on. I smoothed out the wrinkles and looked in the mirror while combing my hair. Maybe I was pretty, I smiled at my reflection, maybe I was good enough.

I walked into the bedroom and made up the bed placing Mr. Bear on my pillow. Fingers crossed, I hoped I wouldn't need him tonight. I stood in front of the full-length mirror and looked at my reflection. I knew I wasn't ugly, but I never considered myself beautiful. Tonight, I looked beautiful.

I walked back into the living room and turned on the TV after checking my mail, nothing. I flipped channels while trying not to look at the clock every few seconds. Maybe he couldn't come back tonight. Maybe he was stuck at Section. A deep over-analytical depression washed over me taking me to a place I didn't like. A place of self-loathing.

Michael. After all the men I'd been with for various reasons or no reason at all, why would Michael want me? I know what he says and I know his concern, but I'm used merchandise. He researched me well enough to know I hadn't been a virgin in a long, long time. He seemed to know me better than I knew myself and he still cared. I was his Sweet Maria.

Fuck my past! I slammed my fist down on the couch and got angry. I was angry with myself for the thoughts. I had fought those thoughts for years in the pokey, I sure as shit wasn't going to slide back into them now. When I woke up in Section I was granted a fresh start. A new Maria DeLuca was born. One who didn't think she was worthless, one who had a purpose in this world!

Feeling better I got myself a bottled water and waited. I'll admit, patience? Not a virtue. It was almost ten when I heard a light tapping on the front door. I jumped off the couch and skipped to the door. Please be Michael! Please be Michael!

It was. He stood in my doorway, a suitcase at his side and an Atlanta Braves baseball hat on his head. Aww…He smiled and stepped inside dropping the suitcase on the floor and stepped into my waiting arms. He kissed my neck and I was actually melting. My knees felt like butter. His hands ran down my silky sides and pulled me tight against his body. He met my eyes and then he kissed me with no inhibitions. I think he was ready for me. Woo-hoo!

He kicked the front door shut and walked me backwards into the bedroom. "Sweet Maria."

Chapter Seventeen

I tried so hard not to stumble over my own feet as Michael walked me into the bedroom. His kiss was so sweet and I knew this was the night. It had to be the night. I ran my hands through his hair knocking that sentimental hat to the floor. He kissed my neck again and I froze. Whoa! What the hell was I doing now? It had been so long since I was with somebody; and now for the first time it was going to be with someone I think I'm in love with. Man, why does everything have to be so freaking complicated?

He must have sensed my statue stature and quit kissing me. No! No! No! Not good. He looked into my eyes and I saw something I hadn't before. The self-confidence was slipping away revealing a man of emotion and vulnerability. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. My hormones were racing out of control and I could feel, literally, his were too. We looked in each other's eyes and I bit my lip. I wanted to talk but I couldn't find the words. Damn! I hated that. I touched his cheek and he smiled.

"Michael," I whispered and realized it was the first thing I'd said since he'd been there.

"Sweet Maria." He nuzzled his face on my neck and I wanted to cry.

God, I can't ever remember ever wanting or needing anything or anyone in my life before. The warmth I felt through the thinness of my pretty nightgown nearly sent me into spasms. I never thought I'd have this feeling with a man; I didn't really think it was possible. I'd read the stories and saw the shows, but I thought it was just a fairytale. Never did I believe that any of this could ever happen to me.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and nudged his face with my chin until he faced me again. Standing on my toes, I kissed him and it was complete. I felt complete. Ever little bit of self-loathing was gone. I was on top of the world looking down and yes, I think it's true, me, Maria DeLuca, was in love with Michael Guerin. But was I going to tell him that? Hell no!

I could feel his smile under our kiss and I smiled back. If this was true love, I don't think I ever wanted to come back from it. I tensed when his hands slid under my nightgown and then I relaxed feeling the soft and callousy feel of familiar hands. I smiled to myself thinking about the way I had thrown myself at him when we first met. Looking back on it, I know I didn't care about him either way for awhile, remember, I thought he was the devil. That was just all I knew to do.

Sex was not only a weapon, it was answer and a question and everything I ever needed it to be. A bed, a room, a meal, a drink or a fix. Now it was going to mean something different. It was going to mean what I always thought never existed between a man and a woman: love. I could read something in his eyes and if that's what love and adoration looked like; I was all over it.

Before I could rationalize another thought, I felt my pretty nightgown getting raised up my body and over my head. He let it slide through his fingers to the floor and stepped back from me. Although I had made sure he had seen me naked on more than one occasion, I felt exposed as his eyes traveled the length of my body taking in every line and curve. I looked down until I felt his hand on my chin. He lifted my head and I faced him.

"You're beautiful," he whispered and I think I felt a tremor in him.

I smiled totally embarrassed. Okay, embarrassed, but not as much to keep my hands from un-tucking his black T-shirt. He let me pull it over his head and I stared at naked Michael chest. Damn! What else was I supposed to do? I took a deep breath as he slid off his black loafers and then I reached for his belt. Black on black. The buckle looked funny to me and as much as I didn't want to talk, I had to. "Is this electrical tape over the buckle?"

He smiled, so glad I amused him so much. "Yes, it covers the silver that could reflect light and give me away."

I nodded totally satisfied with that answer and undid that bastard. I bit my lower lip as I trailed a finger along the waist of his pants and I finally just used both hands and unbuttoned and unzipped and let them fall. Black boxers were in my way now and I don't think it took me more than one second to get them off. Woo-hoo! Now it was my turn to step back and admire. I forced my eyes up to meet his and I went to him. I'll always go to him.

He took my hands and kissed each knuckle. He made me feel special and I savored every second of it. He led me to the bed and grinned as he put Mr. Bear on the nightstand. He looked at the stuffed animal again and turned him around to face the wall.

"Are you sure?" He asked as he stepped towards me.

Was I sure? I think I was sure. I mean I've been sure that I wanted to jump his bones for quite some time now and now here it was upon me and I was actually questioning myself? Whatever. I nodded, I was so fucking sure!

Without warning, he scooped me up in his arms and lowered me to the bed and in one fluid movement was lying with half his naked body on top of mine. I felt him tremble and then realized it was me doing the trembling. Damn! I may be a born again virgin, but this was silly. I knew what I was doing so why was I so damn nervous?

He brushed loose tendrils of my hair off my face and just stared at me with that quirky little smile. It might have been the same one I had wanted to knock off his face awhile back; now all I wanted to do was get lost in it.

"You don't even realize how truly spectacular you are, do you?" He asked as one hand stayed on my face, the other rested on my ribs.

I didn't know how to answer that. I mean, spectacular? That wasn't the kind of compliment an ex-con gets all the time. I shook my head and he laughed. I smiled back at him and reached to his face. I ran my fingers over his full lips and waited. I sure as hell didn't want to make the next move. And I didn't have to. I felt his hand on my side making a trail to my breasts. I sighed when they made contact. My nipples were at attention when he lowered his mouth to them. I ran my hands through his hair while his full attention was on the task at hand. Never deviate from a plan of action. He must have learned that at Section. All hail Section!

I hadn't been with a man for…God, so long. Four years in a women's prison was not the ideal place to meet boys. And now, here I was with Michael. Okay, amidst my daydreams of born again virginity, Michael had moved on top of me. He was trembling now; not me. I mean really trembling. His breath was shallow and I didn't know what to do. He was making me incredibly nervous.

"Michael?" I whispered. "What's wrong?"

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

Was this a trick question? I swear I already made it more than obvious it was exactly what I wanted. Wait, maybe… "Are you sure?" I watched his face and got scared.

"I have to tell you something first."

Great. He lay down next to me, his hot body against mine and he wanted to talk? This could only happen to me. "Okay." He traced the outline of my breast and didn't meet my eyes. Wonderful, dripping with sarcasm.

"I…Um…I've never…"

A virgin? You have got to be shitting me! Of all the things I thought he was going to say I never, I mean ever, expected it to be this. A virgin! Wow. A hot one like Michael Guerin was a virgin and I don't even know the number of the people I've been with. A twisted hand of fate. He wasn't looking at me and I could see redness creeping up his neck. Michael was blushing and embarrassed. Oh God!

I touched his cheek with the back of my hand. "I don't care." And I didn't.

He nodded and slowly met my eyes. Oh yeah, official time, I loved Michael. His nervousness made me love him even more. He reached towards my nightstand and got out a wrapped condom. Okay, have they been in there the whole time? I don't know if I wanted to know or maybe I just didn't care. He ripped that baby open and rolled it on. His hands still shuddered. So afraid to touch; he lay down on top of me and I guided him into me.
The first thrust and Michael looked like it might be the last. He smiled and then laughed. God, he had a great laugh.

"Why me?" I asked.

"Because it's always been you, Maria." His voice was heavy with passion. "My sweet Maria."

I closed my eyes as Michael made love to me. We didn't have sex, we made love and it was breathtaking. I felt things stir in me I didn’t even know existed. His eyes were so clear and I could see Michael for who he was. A man with deep feelings and emotions so well hidden behind the Section image they were almost lost forever. I could relate to that; I had my own secrets to contend with.

I couldn't help it, I took control. In a move that should be added into the Kama Sutra, we ended up with him on his back and me on top. Maria DeLuca was officially in charge now. And as much as I wanted to, I didn't get up and get the chocolate syrup. Tonight was special; it was so much more than sex and I didn't want to cheapen the moment by adding condiments. Besides, there would always be time for the syrup later if everything went well tonight.

I rode him with his hands first on my hips then on my breasts. His gaze was so intent and I almost screamed how much I loved him. Not this time DeLuca, let him come to you. Let him tell you. I waited and heard nothing. That was okay, I could wait. Apparently I've been waiting a lifetime already.

When Michael came, my body shook. Good God and sweet Jesus! I think I might have squealed at this point in time. I waited a beat before getting off of him. Within seconds his hand was between my legs and I was floored.

"You didn't…" He blushed and covered my nipple with his mouth. Oh yeah, within seconds I did.

I lay back on the bed and sighed really wishing I had a cigarette, God knows I could use one right about now. Something happened then that was better than a cigarette. He curled up next to the length of my body and rested his head on my chest. "Maria." That was all it took, just my name. I heard my name like I had never heard it before. There was so much in him saying that one little name I didn't need to hear anything else from him.

"I'll always belong to you," I whispered and ran my hands through his hair. He kissed my stomach and I think I fell asleep soon after that. Content, safe and nightmare free.

As morning light shown through the curtains I expected Michael to be gone. I was surprised when I felt him next to me, his chest rising and falling with each breath. So last night was not a dream? It was all real. I guess that sometime after I fell asleep Michael had covered us up with the comforter, sweet. I curled up next to his naked body and kissed his chest half expecting an extreme reaction like the last time I woke him up. Instead, I got a murmur and a hand on the small of my back.

I sighed and seemed to forget about everything else in the world. As far as I was concerned, my world started and ended in this bedroom in this bed. However, the phone had a different idea all together when it started ringing it sent me airborne. Michael smiled and watched me scramble for the stupid phone. It was Isabel and she wanted to go shopping. I repeated the conversation back to her so Michael could hear and then told her I'd be ready in half an hour. Damn! That was so not enough time!

I attempted to crawl back under the covers, but Michael caught my arm. "You better get ready, Maria."

I nodded and retreated to the bathroom where I showered and dried my hair. Michael was sitting up in bed when I came back in looking entirely too comfortable when I came back in. Wait, comfortable and hot!

"Isabel Evans," he read from his laptop that was sitting on his lap, as where it should I guess. "You like her?"

I nodded and then relayed the story of the disappearing dip at the park. I don't think I liked the look I was getting from Michael when I was done.

"And you're just now telling me this?" Authoritative voice was back. Damn!

"I just found out last night and then you got here and well…" I trailed off knowing I really did fuck-up. Didn't I just tell myself the other day that I was going to concentrate on work and put Michael on the back burner? Damn! But after his arrival last night I couldn't concentrate on anything except Michaelness. "I'm sorry."

"Damn it!" Definitely didn't like the way that sounded. "Don't forget why you're here Maria. I told you we're both on the line for this. You should have said something last night."

I wanted to cry. This was so not like the morning after was supposed to be. "I know." I started out of the room until I felt his hand on my wrist. I turned to face a naked Michael.

"I'm sorry," he pulled me into him and I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. "I'm just worried about us both. I didn't mean to snap at you."

"You were right, I should have told you."

"Well, yeah, but last night was…" He laughed. "Surreal."

I nodded and felt that wave of relief wash over me. Thank God. Everything was going to be okay.

"We'll talk when you get back, okay?"

I nodded and left the room to wait for Isabel. A knock at the door signaled her arrival and I let her in. She was stunning in jeans and T-shirt. I didn't think I looked too shabby in my jeans either, but Isabel was pretty in a supermodel kind of way.

"Ready?" She asked looking around. I had forgotten; she'd never been here before. "Nice place. You pick out the furniture? It's great!"

I nodded nervously.

"No, she had help." Holy shit! Michael walked in the living room wearing his black pants from last night and that's it. I looked at Isabel and oh yeah, she was gawking at naked Michael chest. He extended his hand to her. "Hi, I'm Michael. Maria's brother."

Brother? Oh. My. God.

"Brother?" Isabel smiled and looked at me. "You didn't say you had a brother!"

"Yeah, look, there he is." I looked at Michael and hoped he caught aggravated-Maria stare.

"I just dropped in on her last night and surprised her," he pulled me close and hugged me. I know this looked awkward. "Thought I might crash here for a few days and see why the hell my sister wants to stay here!"

I laughed and began writing Michael's Oscar acceptance speech for Best Actor in my head. "Yeah, Michael here is the brother I don't like to talk about. When I say I have no family, I mean it. I don't count him because you never know when he's going to pop up somewhere." And yes, Best Supporting Actress goes to Maria DeLuca. "He's crazy like that."

"Okay," Isabel blushed and I wanted to beat Michael for standing there shirtless. "I guess we'll go. Michael, nice meeting you."

"Ditto." He grinned.

Ditto? Oh shit. This was getting bad. We left and I shot an evil glare over my shoulder before I shut the door. It turned into a smile when he blew me a kiss.

Chapter Eighteen

So Isabel and I spent a fun-filled morning shopping. I didn't buy much, that whole guilt thing about it being Michael's money put a damper on my quest for new things. We decided on an early lunch and I was drawn back into investigator mode. Don't get me wrong my thoughts were still totally on the night with Michael; but Michael was right, we were here to do a job. My brother Michael. God, that was so wrong!

Isabel took me to a little sidewalk café, far away from the Crashdown, thank God! We sat in a booth and I started right in. I questioned her about Alex Whitman and how long they've been together and when they were getting married and things like that. It was so cute they way she talked about Alex. I hoped someday that I'd be able to talk about Michael like that, all happy and carefree.

So Isabel and Alex had been together since they were seniors in high school. Sweet. She rambled on a bit about not having a date set yet, they were waiting for the 'show of the century' to be over with first: the wedding of her brother to that Liz Parker.

"I take it they're going to have a big wedding?"

"Oh my God, you have no idea. I think Liz has been planning this for years," Isabel laughed. "They've been sweethearts since like sophomore year and I'll admit, it wasn't always easy for them, but God! Sometimes that girl drives me absolutely nuts!"

"I don't think she cares for me all that much," I admitted.

"Probably not," Isabel smirked and I liked her even more. "She can be a tad jealous sometimes. I don't think she likes the way Max looks at you."

"Max looks at me?" I tried to sound surprised. Like I never noticed him staring at my tits before.

"Of course, you're the new woman in town." Isabel shook her head. "Why wouldn't he? I mean you are very pretty and you just kind of befriended us, or we befriended you, and so yeah, of course he's going to look. Everyone is going to look. Even Alex said there was something about you. Something mysterious."

"Really?"

"Yeah and Kyle, well, Kyle adores you." Isabel winked and I'll be damned I blushed. Must stop the incessant blushing. "I really think you two need to go out."

"Oh…I don't know."

"Think about it, okay?"

I nodded. "So, what kind of snake was it?"

"Excuse me?"

"At the park, I never saw it. The snake in front of me." I noticed a subtle surprise and then alarm flash across her face. "Isabel?"

"Oh, I don't know," she tried to laugh carelessly and nearly succeeded. "Maybe a big bad one, maybe not. Better safe than sorry, right?"

"Right," I took a deep breath. "So I went back to the park last night." I read her expression and she wasn't surprised. Hmmm… "So, I went to the place that I fell on my ass and you know what was there? A really big fucking dip in the ground. Can you explain that to me?"

It was one of those moments where no one knew what to say. I was waiting for an answer and I think Isabel was trying to come up with a believable one. Why would she protect Kyle so much? What the fuck was really going on in this creepy little town?

"Maybe you were at the wrong place," she smiled and I wanted to believe her. God, did I ever want to believe her! "I mean, you were only there that one time, right?"

I nodded and if I hadn't been at least semi-aware that I was in Roswell for a mission, the explanation would have made perfect sense. Damn! "I'm pretty sure I was in the right place."

"Oh well, I don't know. Strange things happen in Roswell all the time." She brushed her hair off her shoulders. "So, why didn't you mention you had a brother?"

Damn! "Well, like I said, he just kind of shows up here and there so…" Think DeLuca, think! "I never really mention him until he shows up."

"He's cute," Isabel blushed. Great. "Alex's band is playing tonight again, why don't you both come? You can introduce your brother around. Will he be in town long?"

Oh God. "I have no idea," at least that was an honest answer. "Sure, we'll try to make it." See, all this talk about my 'brother' and I lose my train of thought on the other important stuff. Damn!

We went to a few more stores and Isabel bought me a T-shirt. It was black and had a picture of a flying saucer hitting the ground. It said 'Roswell New Mexico A Great Place to Crash.' I smiled and promised I'd wear it. Guilty? Oh yeah.

By the time she dropped me off it was late afternoon and I couldn't wait to see Michael again. I was hoping he'd still be wearing just pants, or better yet nothing at all. Maybe cotton candy…

I went upstairs and noticed Kyle's door ajar. I tried to find my key quickly and then I heard my name coming from Kyle's apartment; but it wasn't Kyle. Damn! It was Michael. I set my bags at the door and took a deep breath before walking across the hall and pushing the door open. There it was, an awkward position at its finest. Michael Guerin and Kyle Valenti were sitting on the couch watching TV, well, the TV was on but they were both looking at me.

"Hi." I waved. They both waved back and I wanted to scream. "So what's going on?"

"You never told me you had a brother," Kyle pointed to Michael. "We met today."

"Yeah." Michael grinned and he was wearing more than pants. Damn! He was wearing those too, but also a shirt. A black shirt that contoured to his every muscle. Yum. "Why didn't you tell anyone about me? You're not embarrassed are you?"

"No, of course not." I smiled as sweetly as I could with the anger of being put on the spot very near the surface. "You're just so damn unreliable that I didn't want to mention you."

"Ouch!" Kyle laughed. "We're watching ESPN Classic, wanna join us?"

"Oh God. No. I can't. I have to get dressed. I'm going to go see Alex's band tonight." I looked at Michael as he raised his eyebrows.

"Cool, that's where I'm going." Kyle nodded. "Michael?"

"Oh yeah, I can do that." He stood up and walked towards me. "Well, I guess my sister and I will see you there." He followed me out of the apartment and we didn't speak until safely behind the closed door. I spun on him and he held up his hands. "I know. I should have told you-"

"Should have told me that you were going to pretend to be my fucking brother?" I shouted and we took our argument into the bedroom. You can never have too many closed doors. "That was very uncool Michael."

"I'm sorry." He smiled and almost won with me over with it. Almost. "I didn't really know I was. I saw the opening with Isabel and I had to take it."

"How am I suppose to act like your sister when all I want to do is…" I blushed. I must stop blushing. "You know. This is so not fair."

"Maria," he stepped closer to me and put his hands on my waist. "Sweet Maria, there's a lot of things that aren't very fair. This is a job, don't ever forget that. We're here for a reason. Not to make friends or take up residence, but to find aliens."

"And then what Michael? What happens if we find them?" I closed my eyes thinking of Kyle on a dissecting table.

"Then we work with Section." Okay, that was less than vague.

I nodded and felt like the ultimate betrayer. "Fine, Brother Michael. I guess you'll be getting ready to meet the rest of the gang, huh? Can I give you my feelings on them or do you want to form your own opinion?" Please let me tell! Please!

"Go ahead," he let go of me and sat on the bed. I sat next to him cross-legged.

"Okay, you know I already really like Kyle and Isabel. There's definitely something strange going on with those two though. She tried to tell me I must have gotten the wrong spot in the park when I went back there-"

"You told her you went back there?" Brow furrowed. Damn!

"Yeah, I did. I thought maybe if I just sprung it on her that she'd…Shit, I don't know. Anyway, she didn't seem that surprised either." I cocked my head to one side and struck the curious dog look. "Did I tell you I though someone was watching me? At the time I thought about Rena, but I guess it could have been Isabel. I did run into her not too long after that at the Crashdown and she was in a heated argument with her brother." I felt the wheels turning. "What is going on around here?"

"I don't know Maria," he took a deep breath and I knew he was agitated with me. I would be if I were him. "This is a strange town and we're here to find aliens. You manage to hook up with this little clique of friends and now you're one of them."

"I think its Kyle." Damn. I didn't mean to blurt it out like that. Kyle was my friend. Holy shit, I had a friend and I think I just turned him over to Section. Damn! "Maybe."

"Kyle Valenti." Michael shrugged. "I guess anything is possible. Let's just wait and see what develops, okay? Now tell me about the rest."

I nodded. "Okay, Isabel's fiancé is Alex, that's who we're going to go see. He seems nice. Tess is a little blond number, I don't know much about her but she's been nothing but nice to me. So I can't bitch about her. Max, Isabel's brother, very nice, but very whipped." I made the whipping motion with my hand earning a smile from Michael.

"Nice Maria," the smile was turning into a grin and I knew he wanted to kiss me. See, this was going to be just as hard for him as it was for me. Good.

"He's getting married to that Liz Parker." I shuddered. "She hates me and I might take advantage of that every once in awhile." If I hadn't berated myself for the incessant blushing earlier, I think I might have been doing it again. "She just makes me do things…I can't explain it."

He was shaking his head at me. "Like what, Maria? What does she make you do?"

"Flirt with her fiancé," I grinned and unbuttoned the first button I had buttoned on my shirt. Then I did the next. "I don't know why, but if she's around," the next one, "I just have this uncontrollable urge," one more, "to mess with her." Last button and shirt sliding off my shoulders.

"Well," he reached for my breasts and I smiled with the touch. "I guess you'll have to watch that."

"Yeah…I guess I will." I leaned into him and kissed him. Sigh.

He pushed me back on the bed, his weight on top of me. Rock hardliness grinding into my pelvis. His hands framed my face and he pulled away and looked at me.

"Last night…" He shook his head slightly and sighed. Aww…"Last night was, I don't even think I know the right words to explain it. You made me feel so alive. So wanted. So needed." He kissed my forehead as he took the words from my own mind. "You didn't judge…I never thought that I could feel this way, I didn't think it was possible and then you, Maria, you came into my world and tossed everything by the wayside."

"I'm good like that." I reached for his pants. It took me a few seconds, but I got them down. A little maneuvering and those pants were by the wayside. I helped him get my jeans off and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He got a look on his face and I nodded. I reached to the nightstand and got out one of those mysteriously appearing condoms. I put it on him this time and we were back in position within seconds.

He slid inside of me so easily; everything felt so right. I wrapped my legs around his waist and felt him tense. Not a bad tense, an 'I can't hold off much longer' tense. We slowed things down and I gently rocked against him. I looked at his face and saw purity. Well, somewhat tarnished purity. I think Michael Guerin, Section Man, had never seen real life before. If I was his real life, then more power to me. I wasn't letting him go.

The sweat on his face dripped onto mine and I instinctively darted my tongue out to catch it. He smiled at me the way only Michael can and I felt on fire. The last thing I wanted to do was go hang out in a bar watching a band I didn't care about and sit with a bunch of people I barely knew, however I did like Kyle and Isabel. What I wanted to do was stay right here with Michael inside of me all night long until it felt like I'd never walk normal again.

He came and I soared. Now was time for my favorite part, him curling next to me and running his hand along my ribs. Mmmm…Heaven. He kissed the side of my breast and then flicked his tongue across my nipple. I swear, for a virgin, he was a very passionate man. Hell, he was a passionate man. Period. And he was mine. But could I keep him?

Great. A new thing to worry about. Sure he's told me I belong to him and all that other good stuff, but never with a plan for the future. He did say I was more important to him than Section, but not to my face. Some of the sweetest things have come via email and it sure is a hell of a lot easier to say things like that when the person's not in front of you. Perfect. Now I had to convince him to fall in love with me.

"We better go soon?" He asked resting on his elbow leaning over me. He kissed the corner of my mouth and then down my neck. "Right?"

"I don't care if we ever move form this bed," I said it quietly and wasn't quite sure if it had been out loud or not. From his raised eyebrows, I'm opting for out loud. "Sorry."

"Don't be," he kissed the fleshy part of my breast and I think I whimpered.

When did I become this woman? The one who giggles, blushes and whimpers at a touch? The one who cares about someone besides herself? Thank God I found her…

"Yeah, we better go. My brother," I cringed. "You do realize how wrong this is, don't you?"

"I know, but me showing up as your boyfriend wouldn't quite cut it." He kissed me again, this time on my lips. Those full sensual lips sent shocks through my body.

"So," I took a deep breath. He set me up and I had to follow through. "Are you my boyfriend?"

His eyes danced with the immaturity of the question and I felt stupid. "I'm everything you want me to be." He kissed the tip of my nose and got off the bed.

What kind of crap answer was that? I thought about jumping up and demanded a better one from secret agent man, but then rethought it. Technically, it was an answer and a truthful one. He was everything I wanted. I stood and embraced him. On my tippy-toes, I rested my head on his shoulder and mouthed the words that I was too scared to say out loud: I love you.

After a few more minutes of nuzzling, we finally broke away and got dressed. I noticed Michael had hung up his clothes in the closet and I was keeping my fingers crossed that meant a long-term stay. He dressed in, oh wait, surprise, black pants and a short-sleeve black shirt. I don't know if he had those shirts tailor cut because the way it hugged his biceps…Damn! I dressed in short black shorts and black sandals. The white button-down shirt I bought that day looked like a man's dress shirt. But by the time I only buttoned one button and tied the shirttails together underneath my chest, you'd never know. I rolled up the sleeves and looked at Michael. He whistled and my nipples hardened. Bra? Whatever.

Chapter Nineteen

We got in the Mustang and Michael drove. I swear, give a man a pretty car and he thinks he's Mario Andretti. The little bar that Alex's band was playing in was not much better than a dive. But that was okay, I didn't mind dives. We parked next to Kyle's car and went inside, although I still would have rather been in bed with Michael, I put on a happy face with thoughts of getting back home.

We found their table easily and I introduced Michael to everyone. They were all there and just as anticipated; Max Evans couldn't take his eyes off my chest. I guess it didn't help that the bar temperature was so damn cold I thought they might actually freeze and fall off!

I introduced Michael to the group and was not all that happy with the way Isabel looked at him. We took our seats and some how I got stuck in-between Kyle and that Liz with Max on her other side and Michael was sandwiched between Isabel and Tess with Isabel next to Kyle. This was not exactly what I had been hoping for; it also meant no hand holding underneath the table. But that would look very wrong, unless I go back to my American Gothic town theory…

Before I could protest seating arrangements, the band came on stage. Isabel was right, they were good. I felt the urge to jump up and bang my head a few times, but I didn't. I do have some self-control. I tried to keep my attention on the band and not on Michael which was no easy feat. I physically cringed when I saw Tess whispering in his ear and him laughing. Okay, it really was going to take a freaking miracle for me to get through this night!

Kyle and I split a pitcher of beer and I was drinking two to his one. No one else was drinking but I thought I might buy Liz one to see if that stick would work it's way out of her butt. The constant silent disapproval of me was going to make me get mean. I hoped I wouldn't have to ask Max to dance later just for fun.

I can handle a lot of things. I have handled a lot of things; but seeing Tess with her arm looped through Michael's was almost enough to push me right over the edge. All concentration on the band was shot and I prayed that I might come down with sudden food poisoning and we, as in Michael and I, could leave and get back home to nakedness.

The band took a break and Alex joined us. Isabel introduced him to Michael and I'll be damned but she was blushing. Even in the darkened bar I could see her freaking blush! Okay, between all the women at the table right now, that Liz was looking pretty good. Excuse my while I dry heave for a minute. Alex helped himself to the last half glass of our pitcher and I jumped up to get another one. It's a damn good thing Michael followed me to the bar because I was going crazy.

I pushed the empty pitcher to the bartender and felt Michael's breath on my neck. "Why are you acting so-"

"So what Michael?" I snapped. "Like a jealous girlfriend? Because that's how I'm feeling watching the shit that's going on! How can you act like that? You do realize I'm sitting right there, don't you?" Oh God, I was ashamed. I didn't sound like a jealous girlfriend; I sounded like a wife! Shit! "Hold on. I'm sorry."

"It's an act Maria, remember that." He raised an eyebrow and I think he tried to look down my shirt. "We're acting. We're not really related and I'm not really flirting with anyone. What is real is that tonight, I'll hold you in my arms and make love to you and tell you the things you want and need to hear and they'll all be true. This is just part of the job."

"I don't like this part of the job," I pouted.

"I know," he reached to brush the hair out of my face and then stopped and shook his head. "Not very brotherly. Let Kyle do it."

"I'm not letting Kyle do anything," I fought the smile. "So, how long do we have to stay? Did you find out anything from the 'Roswell 88201' class of importance or can we go?"

"You're going to get angry."

Shit. "What?"

"Have Kyle drive you home, I'm taking the car." He ran a hand through his hair. "I told Tess I'd drive her home."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" I nearly shouted. "There is no fucking way in hell-"

"You don't have a choice." Michael's eyes were stern. He was pulling rank on me. Damn! "This is part of the job. She seems like she wants to talk."

"No, she seems like she wants to…" I couldn't even say it.

"Sweet Maria," he met my sad eyes. "Do you really think I would throw away everything we have together for Tess? She's just part of the job."

I nodded and wanted to kiss him so bad it hurt. The bartender returned with my pitcher and I thought about drinking out of it. No, must show manners. We walked back to the table as Alex was leaving to go back on stage. I couldn't even look at Michael.

I looked next to me to that Liz and really wanted to choke her. She held onto Max's hand like it was a freaking lifeline. Sure, I'd seen him cast the occasional glance to the goods all night, but once Liz had caught him, it was all down hill for him. Now he either looked at Liz or the stage. Poor guy…

I chanced a peek at Michael and wanted to throw up. He actually had his arms around both Tess and Isabel! Oh. My. God. This was so not happening. I looked at Kyle and felt absolutely nothing but friendship, so how could…? I swear, if that is Michael acting I'll give him a fucking Oscar. If not, I'll give him the ass kicking of a lifetime. Damn! He caught me looking and he winked. Aww…Okay. I'm good.

The band really did rock and I was sad when it was over. I asked Kyle to drive me home and explained that Michael was taking my car and driving Tess home. Kyle grinned and extended his hand to me. I took it and he bowed. I really liked Kyle. I hugged Isabel good-bye and felt very strange about it. A female friend, one who didn't butcher her husband. Cool. I took a deep breath and went around the table to Max and leaned over hugging him from behind crushing my breasts into his neck. I couldn't help it. I had to.

I caught the half smile from Michael and the glare of hate from Liz and everything was worth it. Kyle and I left and drove home. We parted our ways at the top of the steps and I hoped I was wrong about him being one of 'them'. I didn't ever want to see anything happen to Kyle.

I walked in my apartment and double checked the cabinet for chocolate syrup. Yeah! It was there and I wasn't hallucinating. I walked into the bedroom I now shared with Michael and smiled. So this was what life was about, huh? I took off the sandals and shorts and put on a pair of pink panties; I really was growing up. I undid my knotted shirt and let it hang open except for that one little button. I looked in the closet at all of his black clothes hanging up and felt a sense of belonging in a normal world. Well, normal for alien hunters, but normal none the less. I saw his suitcase tilted against the back wall and out of concern; I straightened it and heard a clunk from inside.

Damn curiosity and that stupid cat! I knelt down and unzipped it. Two things were inside. A videotape and a folder. Hmm...Not too exciting. I started to zip the suitcase back up then I noticed my name on the folder. Maria DeLuca, clear as day and right on front. Damn! I looked over my shoulder and snatched the folder out. I sat on the floor and opened the Maria folder.

Holy shit. This was my life and it was sad. Everything that had ever happened to me seemed to be in the file. I never saw my booking picture before, thank God, that would have given me nightmares for sure! Interesting reading though. Section really does rule the world. There wasn't any mention of my father except for when he died. Michael had known so much more than that. I found my lovely prison days and got goosebumps. It wasn't all in there. Thank God. Dossier? If I can remember correctly I think this is what the folder was. Wow. I had a dossier.

I flipped through the remainder and saw a review form Rena. Oh, this ought to be good. I skimmed it and found out I was: disobedient, a social outcast, unreliable, had below average intelligence and physically and mentally unfit for challenge. Wow! Don't hold back Rena.

If I cared what she thought I might be upset, but for now, she was all but a memory. I'd deal with her again when the time came. I closed the folder but was curious why there were no personal notations about me from Michael. I mean I wasn't expecting to see my name with a heart around it, but still. I felt a little bit of anger rise up in me. I didn't understand why Michael would bring this here; there was no reason to. Michael knew everything about me and I still knew next to nothing about him. All I knew for sure was that I loved him.
I put the folder back and pulled out the videotape. No markings on it and so naturally I thought it was porn.

I shrugged and took it in the other room. I put some popcorn in the microwave and got a soda. Something to amuse myself until Michael got home and could share about his big night with Tess. With a bowl of popcorn on my lap, tape in VCR, I hit play.

The focus was bad at first; I tried to adjust my eyes to see through the grainy picture. Okay, not porn. My head began to swim as I watched an image of myself. Oh God, no…I dropped the popcorn and covered my eyes with my hands, thank God there was no sound. I knew the sounds all to well. I slid to the floor and curled up into a ball. I know I began rocking back and forth and I couldn't stop. Why? Why did he have this? Where did it come from? This replaced any anger I had about the dossier. This was… Unspeakable. My worst time and it was taped.

I didn't hear him open up the door; I didn't even know he was back until I felt those hands on my arms. "Maria?" I heard the alarm in his voice but I couldn't face him. This was the awake version of my nightmares and it was scary as hell. Knowing he'd seen this, I didn't know if I ever wanted to face him. "Maria."

I know he moved away from me and I heard him clicking the TV off, thank God. He sat on the floor next to me and pulled me into him. I was still pissed and the fear on top of it wasn't making it any easier. I didn't want him to hold me. No, I did. Actually I think I needed him to hold me.

"Maria, why…?" He let the answer hang. I guess he realized the question should be coming from me.

I fought to stand up and move away from him. He let me stand but not get away. He kept his arms tight around me. I felt the tears and knew his shirt was soaking them up. "Why Michael? Why did you have that?"

He didn't answer at first but kissed the top of my head. "I told you I searched for you-"

"You searched and came up with that? With a scared girl who tried to slit her wrists on the fucking floor? Did you see the blood on my hands? Can you see that in the fucking movie?" I yelled at him and saw the surprise in his eyes. He shook his head slowly. "Why me Michael?" I demanded as I broke away from him. "Tell me right fucking now! What the fuck did you see in that tape that made you want me for this?"

"I saw a survivor," he whispered. "I saw the one I needed. The one I belonged with. I saw the real Maria DeLuca."

"I was as stupid girl back then!" I shouted.

"You were a beautiful girl," he took a step towards me and I took a step back. "You're a beautiful woman." He tilted his head towards the TV. "That's where the nightmares come from."

Was he asking or stating? Right then I didn't think I owed him an answer. "Why is it here? Why did you bring that and the folder here?"

"So they could never be used against you." He lowered his eyes and I went to him. He wrapped his arms around me and held me. Safe.

We stumbled as one back tot he bedroom and he tucked me in bed. I watched him undress down to those skintight black boxers and then he slid in next to me. He spooned my body and his warmth sent me reeling. No one should ever be that warm, he was like my own personal electric blanket.

All the pain that had flooded me watching the few seconds of that tape was fading. I don't know where it was going and I didn't care. Michael was there and he'd keep me safe from the nightmares. I closed my eyes as he draped an arm over me and kissed my neck. I felt his lips moving against my neck but I didn't hear him say anything. I squeezed my eyes shut and again, mouthed the words I longed to say and hear: I love you. I wonder if he was doing the same?

Morning light took away my anxieties. I was still a little bitter about the videotape, no wait, I was pissed! I rolled over and looked at my sleeping Michael. He opened his eyes and I let out a yelp.

"Why'd you do that?" I snapped and then smiled. Never start your morning in a foul mood, ruins your day. "How long have you been up?"

He rolled on his side and faced me. "Since you were humming in your sleep, about an hour ago." He reached to me and I went to him as I always do. "Are you better today?"

I shrugged. "I don't want to talk about it right now, okay?"

"Anything you want Maria," he kissed my neck.

"So, are you going to tell me what happened with Tess?" I wanted to say something mean about her, but I couldn't. Damn! Technically she hasn't done anything purposely mean to me.

"I drove her home." He nodded and I knew there was more. Damn it! Why is there always more? "And she invited to me out to lunch today."

I rolled my eyes. "Why? I mean not why did she invite you, God, look at you, but why are you going?"

"Because Tess is very lonely and she has secrets." He cocked his head to the side. "She wants to talk and I think I can edge her along. I think you may have latched on to a talkative bunch Maria. They view you as a friend thus making me one. I can get them to talk to me. That plus, Isabel asked me to go to lunch today too, but we had to settle on dinner."

"Okay," I ran my hands through my hair and laughed not a nice laugh either. "You are turning into the Slutman of Roswell. Its like you're a porn superhero! I don't know if I like all this covert brother shit anymore. Huh! I don't think I ever did actually."

"I'm not a 'slutman'." The corners of his mouth turned up into a lazy smile. "I'm here to find facts. I have to have facts before I can do anything. If it means hanging out with a couple of women, then I'll do it."

"But-"

"And every night, I will be in your bed." Okay, magic words.

Chapter Twenty

He better be in my bed every night. That is the only option. I don't like anything that's going on around here right now, but hearing him say he'll be home with me every night might make this a little easier. Yeah, right.

I think I might actually have the upper hand here and I might as well use it. What have I got to lose, right? "Okay, so how is it possible you were a virgin?"

He blushed. Woo-hoo! I actually made Michael Guerin blush! He licked his lips and I wanted to pounce on him; plenty of time for that later. I hope. "I never met anyone that I felt I could give myself to. I've dated before Maria, I just didn't feel it was right until you."

Thank God it was me and not Rena. That would have been bad. "But why me? I saw the dossier on me, you know what I was like before, why?"

"What I saw in you was beyond what lay on paper," he ran his hands through his hair and I had visions of an oily body with sand coating him on a beach. God, I wanted him on the beach now. I swear these Michael enhanced daydreams were going to get me in trouble some day.

"Did you ever live outside of Section?" I asked tentatively.

"I have an apartment not far from Section," he grinned and pulled me closer. He undid the one button holding my shirt together. "But otherwise, no, I was raised there." He took a deep breath. "My father brought me to Section when I was about four. He wasn't my real father, he said he was a second cousin of mine, I never knew my real parents."

"Oh…" I felt a sudden new bond with him. His hands moved over my breasts as I lay back against his stomach.

"My father was okay. I mean, he was really great, he taught me everything I know and I was sad to see him die." Michael shook his head. "It could have been my fault…"

Say what? "What do you mean?"

"We were on a mission together, he didn't usually do that anymore. I was in charge, as always," he laughed bitterly. "Something went wrong. We lost communication and then I…I relayed the wrong coordinates back to Section." He inhaled sharply. "I don't know how, I'm never wrong, not on a mission."

"Michael."

"My dad went by those coordinates and it put him in the line of fire." His hands still moved over my breasts but now so lightly it was like soft callousy feathers. "My dad was gunned down because I gave the wrong information to Section."

I turned and curled up on him holding him. Finally I was the one to comfort. I kissed his face and hair. My Michael…So much guilt. "How long ago?"

"A year," he kissed my neck and held me tight. Maybe I had been wrong all along; maybe he really did need me just as much as I needed him. "Maria, I don't make mistakes like that."

I saw where it was going and it scared me. "You think it was planned?"

He met my eyes and I saw the truth. Damn! "My father, who hadn't been on a mission in years, decides he wants to work with his son and I end up getting him killed because of Section's mechanics? After the reality of it set it, I thought it was planned. I knew he never assigned a successor, he just never got around to it, so Section fell into the hands of Mr. Smith and Mr. Smythe."

"Smith and Smythe?" I raised my eyebrows. "Sounds like cartoon characters."

"They're anything but funny, they're the ones backing Rena. They're not your friends." He kissed my lips. "When this is over, I don't know…I don't know if I'll ever go back to Section. It’s not what it used to be when my father ran it. "

No Section? Man, what about all the hunt you down and kill you? "I thought that wasn't an option."

"I don't know anything yet Maria," he sighed and signaled the end of the conversation.

His hands were back on my breasts but now they were sliding downward. A little playtime in the A.M.? Always a good. All the badness of our worlds seemed to glide away as I felt my panties being infiltrated.

I slid my shirt off and as he worked my pink underwear down I positioned myself on top of him and got my hands inside of those black boxers. His mouth met my already hard nipples and I relaxed. Oh God, was I relaxed. Maybe everything would be okay while we were here. As long as he came home to me I could handle it. I think.

I slipped him inside of me and my worries dissolved. Just the feeling of having him this close was amazing. I'd never felt more connected to another person in my life. I think he loves me, I smiled at the thought. I rocked on his hips while he held my ass, his lips meeting my nipples every few rocks. This was amazing.

I don't know how long we stayed like that and gently rocking back and forth, it seemed like an eternity. I guess it wasn't really all that long, but time seemed to be standing still for us. I didn't care if I ever moved. I didn't care about anything else in the world right then. Fuck the aliens.

A look on his face and I knew what we forgot. Damn! I shook my head; I didn't want to let him go yet. His expression grew serious as I felt him push me away and then come on my thigh. Damn! This was not part of the fantasy.

"Michael," I said his name softly. "Why…?"

He shook his head and got off the bed, embarrassed? He left the room and returned with a towel. He cleaned me up and kissed the top of my head. "Sorry." He walked away and I heard the shower running.

Okay. I looked around and wondered exactly what was going on. Michael went from Passionman to Distantman in like two seconds flat. All because of a condom? I promised myself I was going to start taking the pill today. I'm sure Section could arrange that without a doctor's visit, right? Maybe I'll drop a line to Rena and see if she could help me out. I'm sure that would make her day. I waited on the bed naked and when Michael came back in the bedroom with a towel around his waist I wanted to jump him again. He smiled that little smile of his and went to the closet. Damn! He was getting dressed for his big date with Tess. Damn!

I watched him dress in jeans, wait, blue jeans? Oh my God, he really was undercover wasn't he? The jeans slid on over that damp skin, and, no boxers. He was going commando for Tess? Things were not looking up for me. One of those tailor-fitted black T-shirts was next and then he slipped on black loafers. Damn! He looked good and here I was in all my nude glory siting on the bed watching him. He ran a hand through his wet hair and I sighed.

"I'm taking your car, do you mind?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't have a big date today." I crossed my arms over my chest but I did make sure I let a little nipple peek through, I didn't want him forgetting about me.

"Maria," he sighed and sat next to me. "This is a job."

"I know but you keep changing the fucking rules!" I pouted. Damn! "You tell me a tiny bit of information about anything and then a whole lot of nothing follows! What are we doing here Michael? Why are we in Roswell?"

"You are an alien hunter." He stated. "You were trained for this. You know what to look for and so far I think you're doing a hell of a job. You might have narrowed things down a bit, now it's just some fine tuning."

"So you think it is Kyle, huh?"

"I don't know. I've only been around him twice. There's a lot of unexplainable things that happen in Roswell, we just have to zero in on aliens and-"

"Then what?" I snapped. "That’s what I want to know. Why are we doing this at all? Why isn't there some big bad alien hunter squad if it's so damn important? This is just you and me and I don't have a clue in hell what I'm doing! Why would Section throw me into this and expect me to be able to do it?"

"This was my project," he glanced and the clock and I wanted to punch him. "I asked for it and out of honor for my father it was granted."

"Your father?"

"He knew aliens existed and he always wanted to prove it. It was almost an obsession for him, but he was smart about it. He kept clean and accurate files for years but never got around to doing anything abut it. That's why we're here. To finish what my father started a long time ago." He stood up. "I have to go, but I'll be back soon."

"Before your date with 'I'm engaged Isabel.' Right?"

"It's not a date. We're going to meet Alex later I believe. Will you be here?"

I shrugged. "I don't know."

His eyes smiled at my bluff. Maybe I wasn't bluffing at all, maybe I would call up neighbor Kyle and see if he wanted to go out and play with me. Would serve Michael right…

"I'll be back later," he leaned down and hugged me and I mouthed those words over his shoulder again. Damn! Would I ever get the courage to say them out loud?

After Michael left I took a shower and dressed in cutoff jean shorts, the ones I butchered at Section, and a little thin T-shirt. I walked by the TV and remembered the tape. My hands shook as I reached for the VCR, I didn't even want to think about it let alone touch it.

Five months. I was in there for five months and I wanted to die. When I told Michael about trying to slit my wrist on the floor, I was serious. I would have done anything to get out of there. I had found a semi-sharp piece of flooring and rubbed my wrist until it was raw. It wasn't sharp enough to do any real damage; my wrist never even scared. I hated when I stumbled back to the nightmares and I hated the part of Michael that had watched them. He didn't know everything, which was obvious, that was for the best.

I shook the images and walked to the front door as the knock came. Okay, either Roswell freakiness is soaking into my pores or I heard footsteps. Not sure. I opened the door and it was Kyle. I let him in and at first was offended he didn't stare at my tits, then relived. I didn't need that anymore. I liked it, but I didn't need it.

"Isabel's acting strange," he sat on the couch and I sat on the other end cross-legged looking at him. "I know I barely know you, but I can't go to anyone else with this."

"Strange, how?" Curiosity piqued? Big time.

"She was over early this morning to go running with me and she couldn't stop talking about your brother," he smiled. "I mean, it's strange. She's totally devoted to Alex, once Isabel is involved with something or someone she gives them herself entirely. No room for discussion. But this obsession with your brother is completely out of character for her."

"Obsession?" Man, not Isabel! I really like her!

"This morning she kept talking like she was drawn to him. She said she felt she had known him, like, always. It's strange." He looked at me and I smiled, a fake one, but a smile. "I don't want her to do anything stupid and mess up what she has with Alex."

"Do you think she would?"

"I don't know. I mean Isabel and I are really tight and we can usually talk about anything. Men hit on her all the time, she's a freaking Goddess, but the way she looks when she talks about Michael is…Strange."

"They're having dinner tonight." I glanced out the window. "He said they were meeting Alex later."

When I looked back to Kyle he was shaking his head. "No, Alex went to his friend's house for a couple of days in Ruidoso. Do you know where they're going? Maybe we should meet them. I have to try to talk to her and get her out of this Michael induced haze. Does he have this effect on a lot of people?"

I shrugged knowing all too well about those specific hazes. "He's out to lunch with Tess right now. Is she okay?"

He laughed. "She's harmless. I mean, really. She gets a little lonely sometimes but when you hold out for the…Hold out for Mr. Right, you tend to get that way."

Okay, hold out for 'the'…'The' what? Mr. Right was not what he was going to say, 'the' what? I wanted to shake him until he told me. "She's a hold out, huh?"

"She's had this thing for Max since her and her father moved here in high school. She says she's over him, but…" He ran his hands through his hair in a gesture so similar to Michael. "I don't think she ever got over him. They have some kind of weird bond and I think she's still waiting around for him to leave Liz." He laughed and made the whipping motion. "Like that would ever happen!"

We talked for a while longer and I learned nothing new except Kyle and I had a date tonight to make sure Isabel didn't get too aggressive with my brother. Good God. We agreed for me not to mention it to Michael, but if I could get the place of where they were going it would help.

Great. Wonderful. I sulked around the apartment the rest of the afternoon until Michael came home. I flew into his arms and forced myself to ask about his lunch date.

"She's lonely," he smiled sadly. "I mean, really lonely. I don't think I made any progress except I know most of life and her history of high school romance with Max."

"And now you're going to get ready for the big Isabel date," I let go of him. "So where are you going anyway?"

PARTS 16-20