Free A MATTER OF TRUST by Kimberley Reeves

something you should rush into without giving it some serious thought. You’re first time should be special, and it should be shared with someone you care about and who cares about you.” Chase could have kicked himself when she flinched. “Damn it, Maddy, I’m not trying to hurt you, I just don’t want you to look back on this and regret it.”
     
    “Thank you for saving me from making such a horrible mistake,” she said coldly. She forced up an impenetrable wall around her heart, one that would keep Chase Malone from ever touching it again, and primly removed herself from his lap.
     
    “Maddy…”
     
    “No, you were right.” She started gathering up her clothes. “We hardly know each other so it’s obvious there couldn’t be any real emotion. I guess I just mistook good old fashioned lust for genuine feelings, but don’t worry, it won’t happen again.” Maddy held her head up with as much dignity as she could muster and looked him straight in the eyes. She wasn’t a coward in spite of her timid nature and she wouldn’t allow him to think otherwise. “I propose that we maintain a business-like arrangement from here on out just to spare us both from any further uncomfortable situations.” Her eyes swept over his magnificent body. “Do you require my help in getting dressed?”
     
    Chase gritted his teeth at the formal tone she was using. “No, I’ll manage.” She nodded stiffly then turned and headed towards the door. “Maddy, wait. I don’t…” But it was too late, she was already gone.
     
    ****
     
    Of all the asinine, poorly thought out, utterly stupid things he’d ever done in his life, rejecting Maddy took the grand prize. Yes, it was insane to think he actually felt something more than sexual attraction when he’d only known her for a few days, but the dull ache in his chest told him it was true weather it seemed rational or not. And as hard as she’d tried to mask it, he’d caught the wounded look in her eyes just before she turned around so there was no denying it was a two way street as far as their feelings for each other went. Yet he hadn’t gone after her. Why?
     
    Chase paced restlessly back and forth, searching for an answer. His usual aversion to commitment had gone by the wayside the moment he’d laid eyes on her so what was the problem? He glanced back at the bed, thoroughly disgusted with himself for letting her go. She could by lying there right now, her soft skin moist and still heated from making love with him, her lips swollen from his kisses and those beautiful blue eyes of hers would be gazing at him with love. Chase stopped abruptly. Love? Was that what he wanted?
     
    He stood there for several minutes staring blankly at the wall as a strange sensation began to invade his entire body. He couldn’t recall if he’d ever even looked into a woman’s eyes after having sex, and he’d certainly never hoped to find any deep emotions there if he had. But he wanted that from Maddy. He wanted her to fall madly, irrevocably, insanely in love with him so that when they finally did share the intimacy of their bodies he’d see it shining through her eyes and know that she was completely his. But he couldn’t very well tell her that, especially not now when she believed he’d been turned off by her inexperience.
     
    Chase raked his fingers through his hair. Hell, he couldn’t remember a time when he’d been more turned on. But he didn’t just want to be Maddy’s first lover, he wanted to be her only lover, but these were thoughts and feelings better kept to himself for the moment. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her off, assuming he hadn’t done that already. Chase strode purposefully towards the door, the very idea that she might be packing her things or was contemplating leaving him chilled him to the bone. Good God, he had it bad!
     
    “Maddy,” he hollered out as he flung the door open and crossed the hall. “Maddy, come out here, I need…” the