Free Becoming Maddie (The Casterhouse series Book 1) by Hannah Gittins Page B

clear that she was attracted to him, like he was to her, but she was fighting it hard. He knew it was going to be harder still after that call but he was more than willing to do the work. Aiden knew that Maddie would be worth it.
    Pulling up outside the building that had Maddie’s flat in it, he stopped the truck and looked round at her. She was staring out the window with a completely vacant look in her eyes. It was obvious that she had a very thin thread holding on to her control. Without speaking to her Aiden open his door and got out of the truck. Still she did not move. Walking round to her side he opened her door, leaned in and undid her seatbelt. He body jerked suddenly. Turning her head from side to side she took in her surroundings.
    “I can manage.” She whispered to him.
    Aiden ignored her and lifted her out of the truck. The loose bits of her hair caught the gentle breeze and he had to fight not to curl one around his finger. Taking a hold of her hand he walked through the main door and up the stairs to her front door. Spinning her around, he held his hand up to her.
    “Keys.”
    Her face was dazed and confused as she looked up at him. He could see that she was getting ready to argue. Maybe that’s what he needed to do to bring her back to herself. Get her mad and work her up and then that look of downright terror will be gone from her eyes. If only he could burn it from his memory that easily.
    “Keys.” He said again.
    As he thought it would, her face cleared and she started to open her mouth to say more.
    “Don’t even bother.” He said. “Give me the keys and we can talk inside.”
    There was many things that he could see working away inside her head. But mostly he knew that she didn’t want him in her home again, why he didn’t know, but she definitely didn’t. Well she would have to just deal with it because he was going to get inside.
    “Aiden-.” she started.
    “I am not going to argue with you in the fucking hall.” He growled leaning down so he was on her level. “You need to be in your home with your dog and I need to make sure that happens. But most of all I need to make sure that you are safe from whatever’s scared the shit out of you on the phone. So give me the bloody keys.”
    There was a hushed moment as she battled with something and then slowly she took the keys out of her pocket and gave them to him. He opened the door and pocketed her keys and ushered her in before shutting the door on them.
    This was only the second time that he had been into her home. There was something about this place. Something about the feel of it. Something about it that touched him in a deep place, that warmed him in a way that he would not give up. It was welcoming and smelt of her. He had only held her in his arms once and for a matter of seconds. But he knew her smell and it made him warm too. Maddie’s flat was light and made you want to sit on the couch and stay a while. Or cook in the kitchen and laugh while you had a beer or wine round the breakfast bar. Most of all the rooms that he had seen made him want to see her bedroom. He had no doubt that it would reflect her as the rest of the flat did but what part of her?
    Marvin’s tale was wagging as he trotted from a big comfy looking red cushion in the living room area to Maddie. She bent straight away and gave him a full body rub down before burying her face into his neck. The Husky sat and seemed to cuddle her back as if knowing that his Mistress needed the support.
    “Please leave.” She mumbled in Marvin’s neck but Aiden knew it was directed at him.
    “No.” He simply said back.
    He watched as her shoulders tensed up and she pushed her face deeper into Marvin’s neck. He turned away from them and walked around the rooms. Looking out the windows and anywhere else that somebody could get in. He also took in anywhere that could see in the windows. Although Maddie’s flat was on a street there was a row of trees in the middle of the