Chapter Text
The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Max sat on the hardwood floor of the living room. She was wearing one of Lucas’s oversized T shirts and a pair of sleep shorts, her red hair loose as she repeatedly stared back and forth between the TV and her latest, “inconvenience.”
She was staring at the last of the boxes she had to unpack in their new apartment. One box titled "closet" that supposedly contained her clothes although she hadn't remembered packing a thing. The last few weeks had been a complete blur at this point and she was seriously debating if she ever wanted to touch or cut through packing tape again.
Max and Lucas had moved to Los Angeles California just a month ago. They had officially graduated high school. Although, it was definitely more challenging for Max due to her intensive recovery after missing 18 months of school. She more than struggled a bit but with help from her boyfriend, and the party, she'd actually done it. And now, they were both starting college at UCLA soon. They were finally out of the hell hole that was Hawkins Indiana. And trust, they were definitely ready for a change.
Lucas’s parents had splurged a little on getting max and Lucas a mostly spacious area to live in when they moved out. As well as the money they received as compensation from the Hawkins military once they turned 18. It was enough so that they could fully settle in to this new place before having to really stress about part time jobs.
But that wasn’t the only source of income they were currently living on…
A few months before they'd even applied, Lucas had sat Max down on his bed because he had something really important to tell her.
March 12th
Max had been living with the Sinclair’s ever since she was discharged from the hospital. She was with Lucas every day now so how suspicious he was acting today just wasn’t normal. And then when he told her to sit down, she nearly lost it. She was sure she was getting broken up with but it really didn’t seem like it since they hadn’t fought or anything.
“Alright Sinclair, spill it. You’ve been pacing this room for five minutes now. Will you please tell me why you interrupted my breakfast? What are you hiding?”
He finally stopped and turned to face her. He sighed before he sat down on the mattress and started,
“Max, you know I love you, so much..right?” He said as he took her hand. “And that I would do anything for you?”
“Yes? Lucas, whats wrong? You’re scaring me.”
He leaned in a gave her a soft kiss to ground her. His face still as serious as ever when he pulled back. “It’s nothing bad max, I promise. I just..I don’t know how you’re going to react.”
“What is it?’ She said a little more worried now.
“So, you know how we’ve been talking about life after all this right? When we get to leave this place?” She nodded, listening intently. “After everything that happened to you, in the attic, I could’ve saved you from ever getting that hurt if I was strong enough to fight Jason. But I wasn’t. And I failed you and because of that. You were completely trapped for 18 months.”
“What?” Max said a little taken aback by him suddenly blaming himself. “ Lucas that’s not your fault—
“But I could’ve saved you max.” He interrupted. “And I didn’t. I wasn’t strong enough.” He said as he pulled a letter out his pocket.
“Lucas what is that?” Max asked as he eyes darted between both him and the paper.
“It’s an acceptance letter max. For ROTC, The ROTC program at UCLA. They’re paying my tuition, Max. And they give a stipend for housing. Its how well be able to afford to live all the way out if California together.”
Max just stared at the letter before she spoke. “The military? Lucas you..you’re going to fight? Are you out of your mind! You’re just going to sign your life away to the governed because of what happened? It wasn’t your fault. You can’t. I..I can lose you again.” She said in shock, tears almost threatening to fall.
“No. No, Max.” He said quickly as he squeezed her clammy hands. “ I just..I want to be able to protect you. That if anything ever happens again, you’d be safe. I can’t let myself be as helpless as I felt in the attic. It’s college training. And even after we graduate, I’ll be on reserve. I’m not going on active combat. It’s just one weekend a month. The rest of the time? I get to come home to you every night. I’ll commission as a Lieutenant. I’m staying right here, with you Max. Let me do this, for us.”
She found herself blinking back tears she didn’t even realize had fallen as she thought about that day, It was July now and she was still sitting on the floor procrastinating putting away her clothes when the door creaked open, Lucas had come back from his run to the grocery store as he decided they really needed to stop living on takeout.
Although Max wasn't complaining. She didn't mind burritos or Chinese takeout every other day. But he had a point. They were adults living on their own now and should probably start eating like some. “Conscious heath choices” he called it. Max was sure he’d just heard Steve saying that at some point and wanted to sound sophisticated. “He’s lucky he’s cute,” she thought.
“Honey I’m home!” He teased as he set the bags down on the counter. Max rolled her eyes as she stood up to meet him. “You’re getting way too used to this whole ‘adult’ thing. It’s adorable and disgusting.” She laughed as she hugged him.
“Oh whatever you know you love it.” He said in mock offense. Then he noticed how her eyes looked glassy. His expression immediately softened; arms tightening around her waist. “You okay Max? You look like you’ve been crying?”
“Yeah I’m okay. Just..got too deep in thought I guess. It’s noting important, really. Just tired of cleaning and unpacking. I officially hate tape.”
“It’s important to me if it’s making you sad, baby.” He said so matter of factly.
“Baby” Damn. That nickname landed harder than it should’ve. It was nothing new, he’d started calling her that a few months after they officially started dating again but for some reason, every time he called her that, her knees seemed to go weak and she forgot how to breathe through her nose like a normal person. He seemed to notice the shift every time and clearly was having fun teasing her.
“You dork. You can’t just do that.” She muttered as she swatted his back through the hug. Although she didn’t pull away from his touch either.
He laughed as he hugged her back, kissing the top of her head. He knew what that name did to her. The smug look on his face proved he was enjoying using it to his advantage.
“Oh yeah? Well take a look at what this dork brought home.” He teased as he gestured to the half opened bag on the counter.
Inside was a few paper bags stamped with those iconic palm trees and the unmistakable mouthwatering smell of fries max hadn’t had since she was twelve, hit her immediately.
Max’s hands froze against the bags, her eyes widened as she looked up around him, a smile already forming. “No way. Lucas! Is that…”
“In-N-Out” he said, clearly proud of himself as he leaned against the counter in a massive grin. “I know I said we need to eat better but I walked past it on my way back and remembered how much you talked about waiting to eat it again back home. Figured we can start the diet tomorrow.”
Max immediately lunged forward, throwing herself back around him. “Forget everything I just said. You’re now officially my favorite person on the planet!”
They sat across from each other at the kitchen island while Max happily demolished her burger. Lucas watched her with a soft, content smile. He loved seeing how much the little things meant to her. Even if this was just a burger she hadn’t had in a while.
“So,” max started, her mouth full of fries. “Whats the game plan for tomorrow? I’m tired of unpacking and orientation isn’t even until next week.”
Lucas swallowed a sip of his soda. “Well, I was thinking we should probably do laundry tomorrow so we don’t have to keep wearing the same things all week. And now we need to do an actual grocery run. There’s a market a few blocks down. That could be fun?”
Max groaned so dramatically, rolling her eyes at the thought of having to put away more clothes. “Adulting is exhausting. Can’t we just explore the pier instead? You promised me we’d go the beach. Summer is almost over and we have orientation soon.” she whined teasingly.
“I know what I said, and we will.” Lucas laughed at her reaction. “I promise we’ll go. But groceries first, then the beach. Deal?” He said softly as he wiped the ketchup off her corner of her mouth, his thumb intentionally resting on her lip for a second too long.
Max rolled her eyes again but smiled at him, watching his hand intently. “Fine. Deal.”
-
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The afternoon sun shifted, the moon hanging high now, a white glow casting through the bedroom windows and onto the floor. Max was currently lying flat on her back, her hair fanned out. Completely exhausted from unpacking.
The click of the bathroom door made her turn her head.
Lucas stepped out, the steam following from his insanely hot showers. A towel around his shoulders. He was only wearing a pair of black briefs. One of the few he’d managed to steal back from max. His skin was still glistening slightly. His hair damp, droplets tracking a path down his collarbone. Whatever it was he was doing in the gym recently was clearly working. The muscles of his chest and abdomen were perfectly defined now.
Max swallowed hard, suddenly forgetting whatever thought she’d just been having.
Damn. He looked good.
Lucas totally caught her staring an a slow, smug grin spread across his hand as he set his towel down. “See something you like, Mayfield? He teased.
“Shut up,” Max muttered, although she didn’t look away. This was her boyfriend. So what if she thought he looked good? She sat up, gazing at him as he walked over to the edge of the bed.
He crawled up the bed, his knees settling on either side of her thighs as he leaned down, hovering just inches away from her lips. The smell radiating off him was intoxicating, he smelled like cedar musk, vanilla, and faintly of coconut. Max was resisting the urge to not flip this whole things around and take him right there.
“You look tired,” he muttered softly, his hand coming up gently to cup her jaw, his thumb brushing over that sensitive spot under her jaw. His gaze dropping to her lips.
“Im definitely not that tired.” Max whispered, reaching her hand up to his wrists. Bridging the gap between them, puling him down so their lips met in a searing kiss.
They kissed softly for a few moments, just grounding each other before Max shifted. She parted her lips with a quiet sigh, and Lucas took the invitation immediately. Leaning back in and deepening the kiss. His tongue brushed against hers, slow and deliberate. The motion sending a sharp spike of pleasure down her spine. Max’s fingers reached back up to tangle in his hair, pulling him closer until their wasn’t any space between them.
He felt so safe. And Max leaned completely Into his weight above her.
When he finally pulled back for air, his lips didn’t go far when he leaned back in. He trailed wet kisses down the column of her throat, stopping to bite gently on her pulse point.
“Lucas..” She gasped and the sound nearly broke him. Her hips arching up against his. The friction of his briefs against her shorts made him grumble slightly frustrated against her throat. She felt the vibration through her body. A moan escaped her lips as she instinctively grind against him.
“Ive got you,” he said as he kissed her. His eyes never leaving hers.
His hands began to trail down her sides to grip the hem of her oversized T-shirt. “This things in the way.” He murmured against her skin.
Max propped herself up on her elbows, reaching down to help him, pulling the fabric up and over her head until it landed somewhere on the floor. He looked back at her, his gaze tracking the freckly skin of her shoulders and breast before they settled on her face. His hands came back to her waist, hooking in the waistband of her shorts and underwear, tugging them down her legs with a slow agonizing pace that made her skin feel hot wherever he touched.
“Better?” She whispered, her voice breathless, her heart racing but still teasing him a little even now.
Lucas let out a soft laugh, leaning down to kiss the center of her stomach. “Much better.”
He pulled back, when his eyes met hers again, they were heavy and intense but there was something else there.
Love.
And not just for her body, for how genuinely happy she looked right now. She looked so peaceful, like everything would be okay.
“What?’ She said softly, fighting the instinct to cover herself although it wouldn’t have made sense; they’ve done this before and he’s seen her completely bare on multiple occasions.
“Nothing, you just..you look really beautiful.” He said, his eyes taking in every inch of her.
“Hmm, that was disgustingly genuine Sinclair.” She teased.
He laughed again against her stomach. His chest vibrating against her legs. Which were already trembling in anticipation. “Cant help it max. You’re perfect.”
“Lucas. I’m actually gonna be sick.” she groaned, her hand coming up to cover her face but was still smiling at him underneath. As mush as she pretended to be annoyed at his cheesiness, they both knew she secretly liked it.
His fingers moved down now, lightly tracing a small silverly scar on the soft pale skin of her inner thighs, the muscle flinching under his touch. a sudden shivering coursed throughout her body.
He slowly shifted his weight, sliding down the mattress until he was kneeling face to face between her spread legs. Max watched him, her heart was hammering against her ribs in anticipation. He leaned over her again, hands sliding up to rest on her arching hips, anchoring them to the bed.
He glanced up at her one more time, full with a hunger that made Max’s stomach flip in the best way possible.
When he finally shifted lower, his breath fanning across her center, Max gasped, her head falling back against the pillow as his hands squeezed her hips a little tighter, guiding her to open up for him just a little bit more.
He trailed a slow, torturous line of damp kisses higher, his thumbs stroking soothing circles into her hips to keep her grounded as the heat between them began to pool.
“Lucas," she warned, her voice dropping slightly deeper.
“Yes ma’am?” He chuckled against her skin at how desperate she sounded.
”you’re being slow.” her fingers reaching out to grip the fabric of the mattress sheets just to hold herself steady.
“Patience, I’ve got you, baby,” he whispered back, his breath hot against the skin of her thigh. His hands coming up to rub soothingly onto her stomach.
There it was again. That name. This man was actually going to be the death of her.
He leaned in, pressing a soft, open-mouthed kiss to the very top of her inner thigh, Max’s toes curled into the sheets. She let out a shaky, broken sound as his tongue made contact with her core for thefirst time, the sudden wave of pleasure causing her hips to twitch upward against him.
Her thighs instinctively tried to clamp around his head but he held her open, holding her steady against the sudden rush of sensation. His tongue stroked over her again, a long, firm, upward swipe that had max not knowing what to do with her hands. The pleasure was a lot, almost too much. His touch wasn’t grounding her this time.
“Oh fuck..” She whimpered her eyes slamming shut her head falling back against the pillows when his hand suddenly found hers. Lacing them together, holding tight. “You’re okay max, just feel me.” He reassured her.
A strained gasp tore from her throat as he leaned back in, starting with focused sucks on her folds. Her head tossing to the side against the pillow. It was completely overwhelming, a sharp, building heat radiating from where his mouth was locked against her.
Lucas was patient, holding her down with the weight of his upper body pressed against her thighs, his nose brushed against her soft skin as he kept a steady, torturous rhythm. Continuing to lick and suck noisily where she needed it.
Every time she tried to shift away from the intensity, his thumbs would rubs firm, soothing circles into her hip bones, reminding her that he was in control right now.
"Lucas—" she gasped, turning into a high whimper as he swirled his tongue directly over her center, focusing entirely on her swollen clit; matching the movement with a hard suctioning heat. Her hips moved on their own now, grinding instinctively against his mouth, chasing the pressure.
Their bedroom was quickly filled with the sound of Max’s shaky, breathing she tried, and failed to even out and the slick friction of his mouth working precisely against her. He was devouring her like a starved man, lapping up every single bit of her bodies reaction to him.
Max felt the heat winding tight in her stomach, pulling tighter and tighter until she was completely gone.
She buried her face in her elbow, trying to muffle the ‘embarrassing’, needy sounds escaping her throat, but Lucas caught her wrist, gently pulling her arm away so he could look up at her.
His lips were wet and flushed, his eyes blown out as he looked up her body. "Don't hide," he panted softly, his voice heavy and devoid of its usual sarcasm. "Let me hear you, Max." He wasn’t asking her. He was telling her. Because he needed it to hear it.
To hear every moan,
Sarcastic comment,
Every whimper, he wanted it all.
That did it. With a low groan, she let her head fall back, her legs falling slack against the mattress as he went back down, his pace quickening. His tongue flicking between her clit as she stared to seize beneath him.
“don’t stop, don’t stop!” She gasped, her whole body writhing as she felt her climax approaching.
The pressure built to an unbearable amount, and then, with a sharp, choked off cry, Max’s entire body went rigid. ”Lucas…” Her back arched off the bed as the release hit her in pulsing waves. Her thighs trembled beneath his hands as he held her firmly through it, taking every drop of her release with a solid press against his lips.
“Wait..what are you..? Lucas!” Max gasped when he leaned back in, starting to holm relentlessly on her Already over sensitive clit. Sucking and flicking it back and forth between his tongue as he kept her orgasm going. “Fuck…” she whimpered as another wave crashed through her.
He only stopped when she pushed her hips back up weakly against the bed; trying to escape the overwhelming sensation her was giving her. Her body slumped bonelessly against the mattress.
When she came back down, Lucas slid back up her body, collapsing onto the mattress right beside her. Max lay completely still, her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to find her footing. Her muscles felt completely useless.
Lucas rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow. He didn’t say anything, he just reached out, his hand incredibly gentle as he brushed a stray, sweaty, damp strand of red hair away from her forehead.
As his thumb skimmed down her cheekbone, he paused, wiping a wet line of moisture from it.
Max finally opened her eyes, blinking in confusion when she felt him gently wipe the tear away. She hadn't even realized she was crying. She was completely overwhelmed but happy.
"You okay?" Lucas whispered, his voice incredibly soft as he continued to caress her hair lightly.
Max let out a small huff, her usual sarcasm making a pathetic attempt at a comeback. "Yeah. Just... shut up, Jerk. Your face is stupid." She muttered at him.
Lucas let out a unconvincing laugh, like he wasn’t the cause of her current attitude and leaned down to press a sweet kiss to her forehead. "Very convincing, Max.”
After about a minute, he hooked his arms under her armpits, carefully guiding her body up the mattress until her back was resting against fully the headboard, and then he pulled her flush against his chest. Max didn't resist at all.
She immediately collapsed against him, letting her head drop against his collarbone. “Don’t move. Sinclair.” She whispered. She was comfortable there.
There was a time when she wondered if she’d ever feel get to feel anything like this with him, or if her body would never wake up and allow her to move like it used to. But right now, held against her boyfriend’s chest in a room that was entirely theirs, she just felt safe.
He wrapped one arm securely around her waist, holding her upright, while his other hand began to trace light patterns along her bare thigh. Max let out a soft, involuntary whimper, her body still twitching and sensitive from just a minute ago.
"Too much?" Lucas murmured against her hair, though his fingers were already turning a little more intentional, sliding a fraction of an inch higher up her leg.
“Sinclair, don't," she grumbled weakly into his chest, though her hips instinctively twitched closer to his hand. "I literally cannot move. This is all your fault.”
"I didn’t ask you to do anything” he teased softly, her breath hitching slightly as his fingertips brushed against the wet, residual heat between her thighs. “Just let me take of you.” He said like it didn’t mean anything special. He was simply doing what he wanted to do; Making his girl feel good.
He moved his hands back in, keeping his movements slow, using one finger to gently stroke over her still throbbing center, slicking her wetness over her sensitive skin.
Max squeezed his arm, her fingernails digging slightly into his forearm as the friction started to coil in her stomach. "Lucas..." she whispered, the feistiness returning to her voice, though her delivery was entirely ruined by the fact that she was still trembling.
"Yeah, Max?" he murmured, leaning forward to press a open mouthed kiss to her pulse. He bit gently at the skin there, causing her to let out a sharp, needy whimper against his collarbone.
"You're an asshole,” she panted, though her head was tilting to give him more room even as she complained. "You know exactly what you're doing, stalker”
"I'm just doing my job, baby.” He whispered back, entirely meaning it, which made her chest ache with a sudden rush of affection for him. He stopped the teasing, pausing at her entrance. Max’s hips shaking in anticipation. “Look at me, Max."
She only whimpered, not lifting her head.
“Max,” he said again. Softer this time. She shook her head, muttering a small “no” into his ear.
He very gently leaned back and lifted her chin so they were at eye level.
She forced her heavy eyelids open, turning her head slightly to look at him. “You’re okay baby, just breathe for me.” He murmured. The teasing completely gone from his tone, replaced by that loving devotion that he always used to reassure her that he wasn’t going to hurt her and that she was safe. Max took a shaky inhale, gripping Lucas’s shoulders as kept looking at him. His hand not stopping the intense fire they were stoking between her dripping core.
A few moments pasted and, holding her gaze, Lucas slowly, deliberately pushed one finger inside her.
Max gasped loudly, her body tensing around him as the tight, full sensation flooded her system. “Oh my god..” Tears of overwhelming pleasure pricking her eyes again. It felt different. Deeper, heavier, stretching her open in a way that made her feel completely owned by him. Because of the angle she was sitting at, it felt like his fingers reached a place back against her cervix he’d never before.
Before she could even process the sudden stretch of his hand, Lucas began to move his finger in a slow, deep, thrusting rhythm. His thumb pressed firmly against her at the same time, capturing her clit in a merciless rhythm.
Max completely lost the ability to form words. Long, languid moans poured out from her as she let herself feel him fully. She buried her face back into him as her hips rolled helplessly against his hand,
Lucas didn't let up. He increased his pace, his finger curling slightly inside her to hit that deep sweet spot he knew made her see stars. His thumb kept its constant, heavy pressure against her. Max was completely limp against his chest, her legs trembling in their own accord.
"Lucas, please…I can't—" she cried, her fingers digging so hard into his shoulders she drew blood. A string of high, broken moans cut through the quiet room, every single one of her sounds muffled right into his skin.
"I've got you, Max. Come for me,” he breathed against her ear, his voice rough and grounded. He pressed a second finger inside her, the sudden, thick stretch making Max's eyes fly open as a loud, completely unexpected sob of pleasure escaped her throat.
“Shit! O..oh my—“ she gasped as tears formed under her eyelashes. Streaming down her already flushed cheeks.
It was too much. Her muscles started to seize, spasming around his fingers, a desperate, involuntary reaction to how good his hands felt. The liquid heat coiled in her lower stomach until it turned into pure overstimulation. She tried to pull her hips back, trying to escape the sheer intensity of what he was doing to her, but Lucas kept his grip firm on her hips, forcing her to take everything he was giving to her.
"Look at me," he said softly, his own breathing wrecked.
Max forced her head back, her face flushed and eyes glassy with tears from how overwhelmed she was. The moment their gazes locked, Lucas delivered three fast, hard and deep, final thrusts of his fingers.
With one expertly placed press of his thumb against her, everything stopped.
That completely broke her. Max’s breath hitched, cutting off entirely as her whole body went rigid. Her body scrambling for purchase against his chest, her head falling back as a shattered, breathless cry tore from her lips. Her vision blurring at the edges as the second orgasm crashed through her.
She needed a moment to recover from a orgasm so intense it left her dizzy. Her body twitched and pulsed hard around his fingers for several long seconds as the aftershocks ripped through her; chest heaving as she felt entirely lost. Completely unaware of the world around her. Her body melting into the solid weight of him holding her tight against his own body.
“You okay?” Lucas asked softly, his chest still heaving against her back.
But as the moment passed, max didn’t say anything. She was still completely slumped against Lucas’s chest, her body heavy. She felt unraveled, the effects of her orgasm making her feel dizzy. Though as her mind cleared slightly, she felt a jarring amount of vulnerability she still struggled to allow even when it was just Lucas.
She tried to sit up in his lap, her head pounding as lifted it weakly in a pathetic attempt to search for where her shirt had fallen earlier to prove that she was ‘totally’ fine even though she couldn’t stand up right now even if she tried. She didn’t know why she did that. She just didn’t like being vulnerable.
Lucas noticed the shift in her reaction. the same shift he’d noticed when we walked through the door that afternoon. One he knew all too well. He didn’t let her pull away, his arms tightened around her waist; shifting her slightly so she was now straddling his lap, careful not to brush against the areas that had become too sensitive to touch.
“Whats wrong Max?” He asked, his voice sounding a little more concerned now. “Talk to me,”
Max stiffened slightly in his grasp, a small frown appearing across her face. “Im fine,” she grumbled into his collarbone. Her voice still completely breathless so her delivery lacked any real bite she was intending on displaying. “Stop hovering, Sinclair. It’s annoying.”
“Im not hovering Mayfield.” He whispered, his voice vibrating against her shoulder. He leaned down, pressing a slow deliberate kiss to the side of her neck. “just checking on my girl. You’re shaking baby.”
“I am not shaking” she protested. “It’s just..a little cold in here.” She lied as she snuggled deeper into his shoulder.
Lucas laughed softly, unfazed by her attempt at protecting her dignity. He reached down to grab the blanket at the end of the bed, pulling it up over their bare bodies to shield Max from the so called ‘draft.’ He held her there for a moment while she 'warmed' up.
Then he carefully shifted his weight, “hold on a second. Don’t move.” Lucas said as lifted her sated body and placed her against the pillows, tucking the blanket back around her.
Max let out a weak, protesting groan as his body left her side. “Lucas,” she muttered, fixing the blanket around her as she got comfortable. She watched him as he walked across the length of their room and into their bathroom, stealing a glance at his muscles as he disappeared into the room.
He came back in a minute later with a damp hand towel from the sink.
Max immediately rolled her eyes at the sweet gesture, her walls building up again even through the heavy exhaustion.
“Lucas.” She warned. Her eyes glaring at him.
“Max”
“Seriously? I can do it myself I swear.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you can MadMax.” He smirked at her. “Just as soon as you can move again you’re free to do this on your own, but for now? Im not just going to leave you like this because you’re too stubborn to admit you can’t do it yourself right now.” He said in a tone that left no room for an argument.
Max huffed grumpily, throwing an arm over her face as he knelt down in front of her, gently holding her ankles to slide her legs straight.
“okay, Romeo..” She teased as he positioned her.
“Yeah, Max. Whatever you say. Definitely. Im totally gone for you.”
This was nothing new, Lucas had always been like this. Caring, giving and entirely focused on what it is she needed in moment like this. Even when they weren’t having sex, he was usually worrying about her comfort before his own. Neither Lucas or Max knew why she was making it such a thing today. He always cleaned her up after sex.
He used the cloth to wipe away the wetness that had gathered between her thighs from her release. His touch light, gentle and deliberate. When he finished, he set the cloth down inside their laundry basket, immediately getting back into bed with her afterwards. Pulling her to him gently so she was draped completely over his chest.
Max let out a dramatic, defeated sigh, her body relaxing completely into him as she rested her chin on his collarbone. She wasn't used to being treated so well by anyone else, but this Lucas,
the same Lucas who never ran when her life got difficult, the one who stayed even when she kept pushing him away, And the boy who stayed by her side for eighteen months and didn’t get a single doctor tell him any different, she didn't have to fight him. because he stayed. He always did.
She leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to the center of his chest, right where his scar was. It was her way of thanking him for being so good to her when she didn’t have the words to say it out loud.
His arms tightened around her waist immediately.
The quiet hum of the distant city traffic drifted through the open window, a constant reminder of how far they were from Hawkins; of how far they’ve come. There were no rifts here. No hospitals, No fears of being hurt again. Just an apartment full of love, a stack of neglected cardboard boxes, and the two of them.
Max smiled against him. The reality of it all suddenly hit her, a wave of profound relief washing over her chest. She needed to feel this.
“We’re really doing this aren’t we?” She whispered, her voice so quiet Lucas almost didn’t catch it.
Lucas turned his head, shifting as he pressed his lips to hers, “Yeah, MadMax but were doing this, together.”