“There are so many reasons why I moved away when you kissed my waist just then.” Matthew groaned and ran a hand over his face, attempting to sort through his thoughts so that he could explain what was going on in his head and maybe set her at ease. “First of all, I don’t know exactly what happened with your father but I know none of it was good. I don’t know what kind of effect that’s had on you and maybe…” he trailed off and let his head fall against the doorframe with an audible thump. “I thought maybe you wanted to repay me with<span style="font-weight: bold">physical intimacy</span>.” He grimaced as he said it, knowing what a twat he must sound. “So I freaked because at the end of the day I’m just a guy and you’re a girl. A young girl. My student. And I should know better but I think I’ve already proved I don’t. Multiple times.” He drew in a shallow breath and straightened up, hooking his thumbs into the loops on his jeans, his eyes falling on her hands, clenched on the duvet which was pulled almost up to her chin and a grin breaking out across his face as she admitted that she wanted to kiss him and<span style="font-style: italic">other things</span>.<br/><br/>Giving a husky chuckle he padded over and perched on the end of the bed. “You shouldn’t say things like that to me but I didn’t pull away because I don’t find you attractive. I think you’re fucking beautiful. I thought you were gorgeous when you marched into Wood’s office twenty minutes late and when you draped yourself over his desk and when you jumped me and even today when you answered that hall door and you looked like you had been through hell and back but you were still gorgeous.”<br/><br/>Leaning over Matt pressed a kiss to the uninjured side of her head. “Be careful what you wish for. No one ever said I was a good man.” He lifted his hand and his fingers caught her chin, tilting it upwards gently so he could see her face. His eyes narrowed and he smiled to himself as he noticed her flush and the slight parting of her lips. “Your scent is delicious,” he growled, leaning down and brushing his nose along her jawline, fingers slipping around to the back of her neck as he pressed a kiss just under her ear. “I moved away because I don’t trust myself or my restraint around you and I don’t want to hurt you.”