Hell Fire (Wild Fire: 2) (FINISHED)

14 - Where is it?

It was around five in the morning, Ember was sound asleep, huddled close with Max as he watched her peaceful state.

But because he couldn't stop himself, he pulled her arm out from the blanket, earning a groan of annoyance, and he pressed two of his fingers to her inner-wrist, checking her pulse.

He closed his eyes and counted over a minute, opening them to find that it was normal...

It was slower, but she was sleeping, so it was normal for this state.

But since he had to be sure, he pressed his hand to her navel, trying to see if she was breathing.

She was, he could feel the gentle rise and fall of her stomach.

He still pressed his hand to her chest then, closing his eyes and trying to see if an odd vibration bled into his hand; a sign that she was wheezing.

Once again, she was fine.

But he checked her pulse again, holding her arm with one hand and pressing his fingers to her wrist with the other.

He opened his eyes when it sped up slightly.

Oh, god... was she okay?

But he heard a sudden, "Max...?"

He gazed up, finding her staring down at him lazily.

Oh, she just woke. That was why.

"Max...?" she said again, shuffling to a sitting position so she could assess him better, but he couldn't let go. "What's wrong?" she said then.

He shook his head. "Nothing, just making sure you're okay."

She watched him for a moment. "Why wouldn't I be okay?"

"Just checking up on you," he stated, feeling his heart freeze over as he recalled the nightmare.

Ember closed her eyes and tipped her head back, yawning.

When she opened her eyes again, she lay back down and snuggled up with him, letting him wrap his arms around her as she smiled.

"I'm okay," she promised him, trying to soothe his fears. "I'm right here. I love you."

He squeezed her to him. "I love you, too."

Half-an-hour later, she was breathing softly against him, and he was still holding her, but he stared down at her form as she shuffled close with him.

"Are you still awake?" he asked then.

She nodded. "Yeah... just calm."

He smiled in her hair. "Good, because the sun will come up soon."

"Wha-" but he scooped her up, earning a yelp, and carried her out the bedroom door.

"Uhm..." she uttered as he shuffled on his shoes, still shirtless, and carried her out to the car.

When he deposited her into the passenger seat and closed her door, her eyes followed his form as he made his way to his side and got in.

"Where are we going, Max?" she asked gently as he started the car.

He gave her one of his daring smirks. "Somewhere."

And he drove off.

"Oh..." Ember uttered as he entered the streets, knowing that he wasn't going to answer her previous question, "have you seen my phone?"

"Yeah," he responded.

She gazed up in surprise. "Oh? Where is it?"

His lips tilted. "Confiscated."

She sighed, rolling her eyes.

He'd done this before... somewhat... so she was... kind of used to it by now.

"By the way," Max uttered then, "do you know your sister's number?"

Ember thought for a moment. "Uh... no. She got a new one recently and I haven't memorized it."

"Good," he replied coyly, knowing she wasn't lying by her thoughts.

She looked up in response. "Huh?"

He then kneeled down, still eyeing the road and shuffled under his seat, pulling out a small little box and tossing it to her.

She caught it, staring down at the picture as he kept driving.

Her lashes lowered, knowing that it was a new burner cell.

"You're welcome," he told her then.

She sighed in annoyance, opening the box and slipping the phone out from the Styrofoam compartment. "You're a jerk." After starting the new phone, she gazed up at him in boredom. "Let me guess, the dial keypad is removed on this?"

He smiled, nodding. "Just like your first one."

"Not my last," she muttered.

He just chuckled.

She rolled her eyes.

"My number's on there," he explained. "So is Sammy's. But we're the only ones. No one else. Call me first, got it? Sammy's the only one on there if I can't be there in time. Only call her when I tell you."

"Yes, sir," she responded sarcastically.

"And I told her to let you know every time you call her," he continued. "So don't try anything."

Ember sighed, rolling her eyes again. "Why would I possibly do that?"

"Anything's possible," he responded. "The first time I stole you, you tried to run every chance you got. Have to be prepared, Angel."

"Mmm," she muttered as he continued down the road.