Search Me by Katie Ashley Page A

took something I never should have.”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    He grunted. “You didn’t have to. It’s written all over your face.” Shaking his head, he replied, “Regardless of what you think happened, you wanted it just as much as I did.”
    I huffed out a frustrated breath. “Yeah, I wanted it because I loved you, and loving you meant I was willing to do anything for you—including losing my virginity to someone who would never appreciate it.”
    The color slowly drained from Maddox’s face as his expression turned wounded. He stared so intently at me that I finally had to look away. “Jesus Lane, I’m sorry. I’m a fucking asshole, okay? I was just teasing you before. I guess I got a little carried away. I didn’t mean to hurt you—not now and not then.”
    I snapped my gaze back to him. “You never knew when to stop when we were kids, and you still don’t. I’m sorry if the truth hurts, but yes, you hurt me.” Under my breath, I murmured, “Worse than you could ever imagine.”
    “I’m just a callous douchebag who can’t handle emotions.” His hands released mine, and he rolled off of me. “I’m too like my mother, and I hurt the ones I love.”
    Maddox’s pain was palpable. Even though it pained me, I scooted a little closer to him. “Listen, it’s been a long day, and we’re both worn out physically and emotionally. So we can’t really be held accountable for what we’re saying. Let’s just forget all this happened, okay?”
    “You mean, call a truce?”
    I nodded.
    “Sure.” He rose up to a sitting position. A genuine smile curved on his lips. “Even if we’re calling a ceasefire, I’d like my apology to be noted. You know, for the record.”
    “Apology accepted and noted,” I replied with a grin.
    “Good. I’m glad to hear it.” He held out his hand to help me up from the bed. “I better get cleaned up.”
    “Okay. As soon as I find something to wear, I’ll go see if there’s anything in the kitchen I can cook for us.”
    “Sounds awesome,” Maddox replied as he headed into the bathroom. When he closed the door, I took my lantern into the closet. Just as I had suspected, Trophy Wife’s wardrobe left much to be desired that wasn’t spandex, bedazzled, or midriff. I finally slipped on some black yoga pants and a T-shirt that no lie read, I Got Shucked at Nooky’s in Panama City , which I gathered was an oyster bar. I also grabbed up a pair jeans that would probably be tight on me along with the one non-halter shirt in case I needed something for tomorrow.
    Then I made my way to the kitchen, which thankfully seemed to be the most normal room in the cabin. The fridge was wiped clean, but the pantry was pretty stocked. After checking the expiration date on a jar of spaghetti sauce, I grabbed some noodles and got busy. I was used to cooking at home from time to time, but it was a new experience cooking by lantern light in a stranger’s kitchen. I guess in the end it was a little like camping out.
    Maddox appeared behind me just as the sauce started bubbling on the stove. He sniffed the air appreciatively. “That smells awesome. Man, I’m starving.”
    I glanced over at him. His hair was still wet from the shower, and he had only thrown on a white “wife beater” undershirt with a pair of boxers that had hot red peppers all over them. “Nice shorts,” I mused as I drained the water off the noodles. The truth was although the design was pretty funny, he looked practically edible in them, and I certainly didn’t need to be having those thoughts about him.
    He chuckled. “Yeah, these were about the only pair of clean underwear I could find that weren’t tighty whitey’s or a Speedo.” He shuddered. “I don’t even want to think about what that dude is doing wearing a Speedo.”
    I giggled. “Of all the cabins we have to break into, we pick one owned by trashy perverts.”
    “No joke,” he murmured, pouring a glass of water.
    After spooning a heaping