Page 59 of Safe Haven

Maddox’s blue eyes move over my face, like he’s gauging my reaction to what he’s telling me. He must not hate what he sees, because he continues. “Do you remember what happened the night I came to your apartment?”

I smile. “You mean other than a strange man coming through my window?”

Maddox seems to relax a little at my teasing. “Other than that.”

“I remember trying to hit you with a baseball bat.” I was so proud of myself for stepping up like that. For trying to take on someone I was sure came to hurt me. “Sorry for that, by the way.”

“Don’t be sorry. I was happy it happened, because it meant you were a fighter.” Maddox’s lips lift. “I wasn’t wrong.”

He’s getting sidetracked—moving the conversation back to me—and I feel like he might be doing it on purpose. So I drag him back where I want to stay. “WhatshouldI remember about that night?”

Maddox’s smile slips a little and he takes a deep breath. “The part that was a little embarrassing for me.”

Ah.Thatpart.

“I don’t know that I’d call it little.” I tease him again because it seems to help him relax. “And there was nothing to be embarrassed about. You really love your job and excitement is a big part of arousal, so?—”

“That’s not why it happened, Audrey.” Maddox shakes his head, eyes leaving my face. “It’s not usually easy for me to get…”

“Aroused?” I stick with the word I’ve already used since it didn’t seem to make him more uncomfortable than he already is.

“Right. That.” Maddox brings his eyes back to my face, looking at me like there’s something he can’t quite figure out. “I usuallyneed to get to know someone before that starts to come into play.”

“And you didn’t really know me.”

I can see why he’s confused. Sure, we’d met once or twice, but it didn’t go beyond general introductions. For all intents and purposes, I was a stranger. Based on what he’s telling me, his reaction to me wouldn’t make sense. I can see now it probably took all he thought he knew about himself and turned it on his head.

But he’s not the only one whose normal has gone off the rails lately.

“Can I tell you something?” I don’t wait for his approval, because he needs to know this. “I felt like I knew you almost immediately.” I wiggle around beneath him, trying to free one of my pinned legs from the weight of his limbs. “Even though you crawled through my window and scared the shit out of me, it never felt awkward or strange with you around.” I manage to get the leg out and Maddox’s hips angle between my thighs. “It felt natural. Easy.”

His nostrils flare when I slide my other leg from under his body, resulting in the hard line of his dick pressing right against me in a way that makes every inch of me flushed and needy. I almost lost him tonight, and it’s making me feel desperate to touch him.

Desperate to be touchedbyhim.

I skim both hands down his chest, smoothing over his skin with a reverent touch. “I promised myself I wouldn’t be stupid again. That if I ever found someone I thought I might like, I’d take it slow. Get to know them inside and out before I jumped in. That I would make sure they were who they claimed to be, so I didn’tend up in the same place I’d just worked so hard to escape.” Once again, I reach the waistband of his pants, only this time he doesn’t stop me. “But I can’t help it with you. I keep trying to slow down, but that almost makes my feelings run faster.” I lift my eyes to his face, nearly gasping at the intensity in the way he’s looking at me. “So I’ve decided I’m done trying to reel them in. If they want to sprint, they can sprint.” I take a shaky breath. “That’s why I don’t feel bad about shooting that man.” I shake my head as I work the button of his pants loose. “I’d already decided to keep you, and no way was he going to take you away.”

I know I’m saying a lot—spilling some intense emotions and making some wild declarations—but I don’t care. I said I was done trying to control this and I meant it. Maddox wanted to talk about being all-in, so there it is.

I’m all-in.

I nearly grin in triumph when I finally manage to get his zipper down and begin working my hand into the opening, ready to touch him. To show him how I feel. To take care of him the way he takes care of me.

I should have known better.

His weight lifts off me as he shifts away and I grab at him, trying to hold on. To keep him close.

“Relax, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere.” His eyes drag down my body. “You’re just wearing way too many clothes right now.”

I peer down at the layers on my body. He has a valid point.

I grab the hem of everything on my top half and wrestle it up my body, feeling frantic. Like my window of opportunity could close at any time.

And I’m nowhere near as good at sneaking in them as Maddox is.

I manage to get both shirts off and throw them over the side of the bed. Then I go right for my pants.

Maddox chuckles. “I wasn’t expecting you to handle that for me.”

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