Kay! Here's chapter fifteen! Things are getting kinda...serious between Max and Fang. Sorry if I scare you or anything. Just enjoy if you want. If not, that's okay, too ;)

I still don't own Maximum Ride. Thanks for reminding me.

Chapter Fifteen

Max

I had been sleeping restlessly since Nudge left, waking up every so often to nightmares similar to the ones I'd been having for almost a year. I couldn't take this much longer.

I'd just started to finally fall asleep again when I thought I heard a thump. My eyes shot wide open and I looked around my vicinity. I saw nothing. I was about to go back to sleep again when a cold wind rushed over me.

And I realized that I hadn't left my window open.

I sat up on my knees and looked around the window. I couldn't see anyone.

"Who's there?" I asked quietly. I didn't want to wake anyone else over nothing. I glanced back and forth around that side of my room, all my senses on full alert. I was about to give up and confess that it had been my imagination when something touched my shoulder and I nearly jumped clear through the ceiling.

When I landed I whipped around so fast I'm surprised I didn't get whiplash. I was shocked silent when I saw that the person who had touched me was Fang, standing right there behind me.

I wanted to yell at him. To tell him how much hell he'd put us all through, and how much trouble he was in for ditching us. I wanted to do all that, but I didn't. I just sort of stifled a shriek and collapsed in his arms, sobbing.

"Aren't you mad at me?" he asked. I clenched my fists against his chest.

"Oh, I'm so mad at you," I said, my voice getting muffled by his shirt.

"Then why aren't you yelling at me?"

"Because I'm gonna be happy that you're back first," I explained. "Then I'll get mad at you."

Fang bent down and dug his nose into my head. "Hey, fine by me," he said. I could hear the smile in his voice as he kissed the top of my head. I looked up at him and his lips touched mine briefly, sending a shock through my body.

"Enjoy it while you can," I told him. This time his lips stayed pressed against mine and I let him deepen the kiss. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt so good. Even though I knew I was supposed to be super pissed at him, I still couldn't help but enjoy the sensual pleasure of Fang's being.

He wrapped me tightly in his arms, still kissing me gently. I tilted my head slightly and he deepened the kiss. I'd missed being with Fang so much it had hurt. Now, being able to sense him through every one of my senses—touch, sound, sight, smell, and even taste—it was almost overwhelming. Scratch that, it was overwhelming. But I wasn't about to give it away. I felt Fang's hands feel around my back and sneak up inside my shirt. He felt around my waist, his fingers memorizing the curves I'd developed since he'd left. I couldn't help but let a tiny moan escape from my mouth. His body felt so good pressed against mine.

He shimmied my shirt over my head, managing to only break the kiss for a fraction of a second. I moved my hands along his chest, undoing the buttons and sliding it off his arms. He moved his hands up to my bra and barely even touched the clasp before it snapped apart. I broke the kiss and rested my head against his chest—was it possible that he'd grown while he was gone?

"Where did you get so good at that?" I asked him and he stiffened.