Ashley was crazy. She must have taken leave of her sense to even be considering what she was about to do. Not ever had she believe she would find someone she would want to as she followed Maddox to his room.

When they entered his room she looked around it nervously. He close the door.

"You look like a deer caught in headlights."

She clearly wasn't able to hide her nervousness.

"Just relax. Nothing has to happen. Like I said before I'm happy to just have you here with me. We don't have to do anything."

He walked over to her and she had to take a breath to calm her nerves.

For too long she had been wandering through her life, unable to feel. And for the first time she felt more alive than she thought possible. She didn't want to be careful. She wanted to live.

Never had she wanted to be physical close to anyone until Maddox.

"What are you thinking?" he asked softly.

How did she explain she was more than ready to take the next step with him even if she was nervous?

Her eyes settled on his lips and she had the craziest thought. She lifted herself onto her tip toes and pressed her lips to his. She had never been this forward with anyone. He seemed to bring out the spontaneous part off her that failed to weigh up every situation before she acted.

She pulled back to check his expression.

He caught her arms. His eyes landed on her lips and she swallowed.

"Are you sure about this?" he murmured the question as he stared deep into hers eyes.

She nodded. It was the boldest decision she had ever made, but she knew it was the right choice for her.

"I'm going to need you to say it," he added.

There would be no misunderstanding.

"I want to have sex with you."

He cradled her face gently in his strong hands. "You are something really special Ashley." He moved closer to kiss her before he released her. Her hands shook nervously and he didn't miss it. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want this with you tonight but I don't want you to think you have to do this. We don't have to do anything you're not ready for."

She shook her head and placed a finger against his lips to keep him from talking further.

"I want this with you." She exhaled a nervous breath. "I've never done this before and I'm nervous about what to expect but don't take that as second guessing my decision. There aren't a lot of things I'm certain about but I want you, here tonight. That much I know."

He rubbed the back of his neck as he studied her. "I want you more than anything I've ever wanted anyone before."

She didn't want to think of the girls he had been with before.

"Then just say you'll give me a night to remember."

He smiled. "I'll rock your world." The teasing tone did not diminish the his confidence and her girlie parts swooned.

His words eased the seriousness of the choice she was making and put her more at ease.

He dropped his hand from the back of his neck. "I can't wait to wake up with you in the morning."

She had already covered every aspect and had fibbed to her parents that she was going to sleep over at Sally's. No one would be looking for her tonight.

She nodded. "I want that too."

He studied her for a moment. She moved from one foot to another, unsure of what to do next. He extended his hand to her.

She moved to place her hand in his, he led her to the bed.

Despite her nerves she was looking forward to it. After tonight she would no longer be a virgin and Maddox was the only one she had ever contemplated losing it to.

She sat down on the edge of the bed before he shrugged his jacket off and hung it on the back of the nearby chair. She watched in anticipation as he removed a flask.

"What this?" she asked as he handed it to her.

"It's to help with nerves."

She opened it and tipped it back to take a gulp. Her eyes burned as she swallowed the vile tasting liquid.

"Yuck," she murmured, handing it back.

"Good to know you're not a whiskey drinker."

"I don't think I'm much of a drinker full stop."

He took a swig as well before closing it and putting it back in his jacket.

"Come here," he said.

He took her breath away. He was so effortlessly handsome. It was in his confidence, not his good looks.

She rose and took the steps to close the distance between them. His eyes followed her.

"You are beautiful tonight." His hand rose to run a finger down her chest until it stopped in the neckline of her shirt.

Her face tilted up to his, needing him to kiss her. As if sensing it he gazed down at her lips for a few seconds before his lips lightly touched hers. Her hands flattened against his chest as she waited for him to deepen the kiss. When his hands dropped to her waist and he moved her back a step, his mouth touched hers with more pressure and she opened then to meet his tongue with hers in a caress.

Her stomach fluttered with anticipation but the nervousness was constant. She knew it might hurt, and that's what made her pause for a moment before she pushed through it to link her fingers around his neck.

When he lifted his mouth, he drew back and she dropped her hands to her sides.

"May I?" he asked with his hand on the hem of her shirt.

She nodded. With bated breath she waited while he lifted the shirt. She stood nervously feeling the warmth of his gaze on her skin. Next his hands went to buttons of her jeans. He unzipped them and slid them slowly over her hips and down before helping her step out of them.

Now she was dressed only in her bra and panties. She dropped her arms to her side to allow him to see her.

"Beautiful," he murmured, his finger sliding from her cleavage, down her stomach to the edge of her panties. Her skin burned beneath his touch.

Her hands went to his shirt. Needing to see him in the way he was seeing her she helped him remove the shirt. He was lean, broad shouldered and muscled, not an ounce of fat on the hard planes of his six pack. She allowed her fingers to trace them as they lowered to his jeans.

Feeling more confident she undid his belt and unzipped the trousers. She helped him discard the clothing and they faced each other in their underwear.

He took her by the hand and led her to the bed and drew back the covers. She slid into the bed and he joined her.

"You still okay with this?" he asked, moving her hair from her shoulder.

She nodded and swallowed her nervousness.

He kissed her and she rested her hand to his cheek. His tongue caressed hers and she pulled him closer, her hands on his arms. The feel of his skin against hers was indescribable and she was very aware of the bulge between his legs that seemed to grow by the second against her leg.

She knew the semantics of sex but the thought of actually doing it terrified her. Would he fit?

He took her hand from and guided it lower. It surprised her and she broke their kiss.