There were times she wanted the same to go off to college and be young and carefree like her friends. But she would have to mature quickly if she was going to move out and live on her own.

"Give me your phone," he said.

She frowned but followed his instruction.

"Here is my number. If you need someone to talk to you can phone me anytime." He handed her phone back.

"Thanks," she murmured. She was touched that he had offered an ear but she wasn't sure she would take him up on the offer. Although it had meant something that she had mentioned it at all to him.

She pocketed her phone as they reached the exit. The car park was deserted except for a few students.

"Thanks for walking me out."

"You're welcome. See you tomorrow."

They parted ways and Ashley walked over to her car. She was already yawning as she drove home. Her phone pinged with a message but she didn't check it. She needed all of her concentration to drive.

When she finally dragged herself through the front door she felt dead on her feet. She dropped her bag just as she entered her room and headed straight for her bed. The softness of her pillow felt like heaven and she curled up on her bed.

It didn't take her long to fall asleep.

*********

Something stirred her awake. It was dark. Something hit the window. She sat up pushing her hair out of hair face as she tried to figure out what was going on. It was dark.

Something hit the window again. She frowned as she slid off the bed and looked down. Maddox stood below in the front garden.

She opened the window. "What are you doing?" She whispered harshly, very aware her parents were home.

"You weren't answering your phone," he said.

Then she remembered she had received a message but she hadn't heard her phone.

"Why are you here?" she asked, trying not to draw her parents' attention.

"I wanted to see you." He shrugged.

Before she could say another thing he started to climb up the tree beside her room and before she knew it he was entering her bedroom through her window.

"My mom will freak if she finds you in here," she said in a whisper.

"Then let's make sure she doesn't find me." He had a sparkle of mischievousness in his eye and it was much harder to be annoyed with him.

She turned on the light beside her bed.

For the first time, she was super aware of the guy standing in the middle of her bedroom.

"Pink?" he said with a raised eyebrow and a smile scanning her room with open interest.

She rolled her eyes. "So what? What's wrong with pink?"

"Nothing, it's just a I never pegged you for a frilly pink bedroom type." He continued to look around her room.

She became very aware that this was the first time there was a guy in her room and seeing her personal space she hadn't allowed any other guy to see.

"And what kind of bedroom did you expect?" She suddenly felt a little nervous.

"Red, maybe a blue." He gave a one arm shrug.

Then his gaze landed on her bed and it made her feel very aware of what they had done just the day before in his bedroom.

"What happened to you today?" she asked, trying to stop herself from openly blushing at her thoughts.

"I got suspended." His tone was matter fact.

"It makes me feel shitty that you got into trouble for me again today." It was twice he had been suspended for her.

He fingers touched her hand and threaded through her fingers. His touch did weird things inside her chest and she savoured it.

"Jim is a bully. He is used to going around and saying whatever he wants without consequence. This time he had to understand it was going to be different."

Slowly, he drew her closer and she looked up to him. "Do you think it's going to work?" She was convinced only a personality change would stop Jim from being vindictive.

She wasn't entirely convinced that anything would stop Jim but she tried to remain hopeful.

"Yeah I do. He has a big mouth but I don't see him risking a fight to keep mouthing off. I'm sure he'll find someone else to pick on."

It was the footsteps that alerted her that someone was nearing her room. Her eyes widened in fear as she shoved Maddox in the direction of her wardrobe. He backed behind the door and kept still just as someone knocked on her door.

"Ashley?" her mother called out.

This could not be happening. She tried to calm herself down.

"Yeah," she replied, without making a move to open the door. She hated how her voice pitched higher than usual. She hoped her mom wouldn't come into the room otherwise she was screwed. Her mother would ground her for the rest of her life and some.

"Are you coming down for dinner?"

Thankfully her mother made not attempt to open her door.

"I'm not hungry right now. Um...I'm trying to finish up my homework so I'll get something later." She held her breath as her eyes found Maddox's, half of his face hidden behind her wardrobe door.

"Okay," her mother said and then she heard her retreating footsteps.

Once she was sure her mother was gone, she expelled the breathe she had been holding.

"That was too close," she whispered as Maddox stepped out from behind the door.

He gave her a confident smile and she was still trying to catch her breath. At that moment she wasn't sure if it was the scare with her mom or the sight of him that caused her heart to race.

She felt alive, like when she stood on the edge with the wind blowing against her face. Her lungs full of air and her heart full of life. And all it took was the boy standing in front of her.

He moved closer reaching up to touch her face as he stared at her in awe. "You look just like...you do when you're standing on the cliff."

She took a breath. "You make me feel alive." It was the deepest thing she had ever revealed to him.

He was as addictive as the excitement of balancing between danger and safety.

His eyes dropped to her lips as he cradled her face. "Same." His hands were warm against her face.

His mouth lowered to hers and brushed lightly against hers. Her heart soared like an eagle, free from any restrictions in the wind.

Even though she was fully aware of how close they had come to getting caught by her mother she couldn't stop what was happening.

Like an addict that needed their next fix, she needed him. It was too strong to fight with logic or fear. It came straight from her heart.

His thumbs brushed against her face as he touched his lips more firmly to hers. She covered his hands with hers and closed her eyes to let herself block out everything but how he was touching her. In that moment, everything else fell away.

"I can't think of anything else," he murmured against her lips and her hands moved to thread through his hair as his mouth covered her more insistently. She opened her lips and felt the thrust of his tongue.

He kissed her so thoroughly her knees felt weak.

"It's hard to keep any control when I touch you." He stared deeply into her eyes. Her tongue wet her lips.

"Same," she breathed.

His eyes were stormy.

"I'm glad to hear that," he said softly.

They were both in this together. Good or bad there was no walking away.

No one had ever made her feel the way he did and she knew as exhilarating as it was being with him, it was also dangerous.

He had the power to hurt her more than anyone could and that made her vulnerable to him.

She didn't know if she held the same power over him. Whereas this was new to her, he had some experience.

Did that mean if things didn't work out he would be able to deal with it better?

"What are you thinking?" he murmured, touching her forehead with his finger.

"Nothing." She didn't want to reveal what she had just been thinking.

His thumb traced her bottom lip before he lowered his mouth to kiss her again. His tongue danced with hers.

Then he pulled away. "I have to go. If I don't..."

She nodded. The last thing she needed was for her mom to find him in her room. She would be grounded for life.