A/N: I'm pretty nervous and self-conscious about this chapter. I hope you find it meets your expectations. Please be gentle.

DISCLAIMER: I do not Maximum Ride.

Let them say. Let them say.

Let them say what they please…

You won't be leaving my arms, ever. I promise you that.

Even if you want me to let go, honey.

Even if you want me to let go.

You won't be leaving my arms, ever. I promise you that.

Even if you want me to let go, honey.

Even if you say the things that make me want to lose you.

-Lexington, Chiodos

Chapter Fifteen – Leading Lines

Fang's POV

"Fang?"

"Yes?"

"I want you to make love to me."

With shaking hands and a throbbing heart, Fang gentle pulled Max up so that he could look her in the eye.

"Max, you don't have to do this. It's not about sex for me."

"It's not about sex for me either," she replied. He looked into her eyes and saw an innocence there that he hadn't seen since they were kids. She really wanted him to do this. She really trusted him with her virginity.

Suddenly, he felt sick. She was giving him this thing that she'd guarded for years. Would he hurt her? He couldn't bear it if she was hurt. Would she like it? All these questions swirled around his head. It sure was a big responsibility to be in love.

Love. There, he'd said it. Well, more like thought it. Of course he loved her. He'd loved her since they were kids. He'd never felt this way about anyone else. Not with any of the girls he'd slept with. He'd never had this kind of pressure put on him about sex before, either. Maybe that was what would make this different. After all, Max wasn't the type of girl you had a one-night stand with. Max was a woman to be loved and cherished. She was his Max. His angel. He could practically see the wings sprouting from her back.

If only he could say those three little words to her. He'd already told her that she owned his heart. Wasn't that the same thing? Wasn't that a little bit more creative than 'I love you'?

"I don't want you to feel pressured into anything," he told her, just to make sure that she believed him.

"Fang, you're ruining the mood," she said lightly, and kissed him.

The kiss was hot, slow and measured. It was a kiss designed to make him forget about everything except her. It was working, too. One second he was protesting, the next he couldn't even remember his own name.

"Wait, I'm being serious," he said, pulling away from her. His heart was beating as fast as a hummingbird's wings, and his breaths were just as quick.

"Fang, take the hint. I want you. I'm ready." She looked at him with earnest eyes and a small smile, as if she found this whole ordeal amusing.

She kissed him again. This time it was fast and passionate. It left him breathless and hot and like he'd just run a marathon. He found the strength, however, to kiss her again. And again. And again.

He feathered butterfly kisses along her neck and slowly lifted her shirt up. She was beautiful. He kissed her bra straps, and then nudged the straps off her shoulders. It was black and lacy, which was the opposite of what he had expected.

She drew his shirt over his head then, and kissed his chest. She was shaking from nerves, so he kissed her until she wasn't shaking anymore. Her hands were running all over his body. Her delicate fingers felt like everything good in the world.

"What's that?" she asked, breathless.

She was looking at his shoulder, where the tip of his tattoo was showing. She sat up straight and moved around to his back. He felt her warm hands start to trace his tattoo.

"When did you get it?" she asked, awe colouring her voice.

"Not that long ago. Probably four months," he replied, getting lost in the feel of her hands on his oversensitive skin.

"It's beautiful."

Four months ago, he'd had someone tattoo wings onto his back. His back was covered with big black lines that depicted feathers. He'd seen the design and immediately fallen in love with it. If he could have wings, they'd have to be big and black. There was no other way he'd have it.

The lines led Max's fingers down to his middle back. She lingered there for a moment, before circling them around his waist. The next thing he knew, she was undoing his belt and slowly pulling it out of the loops of his jeans.

She moved around the front again and placed a tender kiss on his throat. He'd never known that getting kissed on the throat could be so sexy.

He kicked off his pants and was only left in his boxers. He'd never felt this exposed with any of his other lovers before. With them, it wasn't anything special. Now he felt as if he were in a life or death situation. It was that important.

He crawled over her, pushing her back against the mattress. He ran his hands up her legs until he got to her waist. He quickly undid her pants and slowly rolled them down her creamy white legs. She spread her hands out against his back and he rolled his muscles just to make her appreciate them that much more. She grinned and pulled him even closer to her.

He took a moment to appreciate her form spread out in front of him. Her underwear matched her bra. He kissed her bellybutton before he kissed the edge of her underwear.

She reached around her back and undid her bra. He slowly peeled it from her skin, keeping eye contact with her the whole time. He didn't want her to get uncomfortable.

He brushed his hand down the side of her body and watched as she shivered. She was quivering with nerves now, so he kissed her breasts to give her time to adjust. Her skin tasted like lavender soap and something soft – like feathers (if feathers had a taste). He pressed his body against hers until every inch of her was pressed against a part of him.

He slowly slid her underwear off, still maintaining eye contact. Her eyes were trusting. She expected him to take good care of her. God, he hoped that he didn't hurt her.

He kissed her thighs and removed his own underwear. Soon, he was inside her (with the convenient protection they'd bought earlier). He waited for her to get comfortable before he moved. Then he was kissing her everywhere as he moved inside her. She'd been in pain at first, but now she moved with him. Her fingers dug into his back and he made sure to kiss every single inch of her he could reach.

Breathing raggedly, they both came undone. She called his name as he buried his head into her neck.

They were silent for a moment as they both collected themselves. He pressed kisses to her neck as he waited for her to say something.

"Wow," she murmured. She turned so that she could look him in the eye. Then they were kissing again.

She kissed the corner of his mouth as she ran her fingers up and down his chest.

"Can we do that again?" she asked with a small blush.

He grinned and kissed her. Of course, that wasn't the only thing he did. Again. And again.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as they curled up under the covers. The sun had risen and neither of them had slept a wink.

"Mmmm," Max murmured, snuggling up against him.

He smiled and kissed her forehead.

"What time is it?" she asked.

"I have no idea. Morning," he replied.

They both lay in silence for a moment, basking in the feel of being pressed up against each other.

"Shit!" Fang exclaimed, sitting bolt upright.

"What?" Max said, startled.

"We have school this morning."

"Shit!" Max exclaimed.

They both jumped up and started gathering their clothes. Fang couldn't help but watch Max as she pulled on her pants and threw on a shirt.

"You forgot to put your underwear back on," he remarked, giving her a smirk.

She grinned at him and didn't go to put them on. His mouth went dry at the thought of Max going commando.

"We have a test today," Max said, seeming to just remember.

"Shit!" they both said at the same time.

They walked to Fang's car, stopping every two meters to kiss. He couldn't keep his hands off of her. Even if they did have a test.

"Fang?"

"Yeah?"

"Have I told you I love you?" she asked.

He smiled at her gently. "Not in words."

"Well, I love you."

He kissed her.

"So, what do you think?"

"What do I think? I think I love you too."

"You think?"

"I know I love you," he said, giving her another kiss.

"Good. Now let's go before we're late."

A/N: Sorry it's a bit short. But I wanted to get this chapter to you as soon as I had time to finish it.

A little bit cheesy. A little bit cliché. But I know that you guys secretly (and not so secretly) love that stuff. :P Hope you enjoyed.