Even shrouded in darkness, I knew it was her. I’d know that heavenly voice anywhere. It was Faith. Standing right in front of me like an apparition from heaven. After all this time, there she was.
My hands started to shake. My mind went completely blank. I felt dizzy. It was too much. It was her. Suddenly, I lost my balance and was falling back into the ravine.
As I fell, thoughts flew across my mind. I wasn’t prepared for this. I didn’t want her to recognize me. After all that had happened, all I’d put her through, I couldn’t just appear like this. It would be too much of a shock. I didn’t even know if she wanted to see me.
I hit the gravel with a thud.
“Oh, gosh,” she cried. “You’re hurt. You’ve got to let me take you to the hospital.”
Thankfully it was dark. I’m not sure she’d have even recognized me even if it was light. I looked much different than she remembered. I was older. I was beaten and battered, scarred and bruised. I had the scraggy beard of a lumber jack, long, unwashed hair, a Lakers ball cap. I deepened my voice and prayed she wouldn’t recognize me.
“Lady, you’ve done enough,” I growled.
“I’m just trying to help.”
“If you want to help, try slowing down.”
I was being rude, but I had no choice. I had to get rid of her. I couldn’t let her know it was me. I needed time to work my way back into her heart. I had to approach it properly. I couldn’t just show up like this.
I climbed back up the rocks but remained in the shadows so she wouldn’t get a good look at me.
“Well,” she said, breathlessly. “Are you hurt? Let me at least take you to the hospital. It’s not far.”
“Only if I can drive?” I said, still trying to get rid of her.
I could see her now, dimly, but it was enough to get the general impression. She was so fucking hot, every bit as beautiful as the moment we’d said goodbye. She still had the face of an angel. She’d matured gracefully. Her eyes reflected the car headlights like glass. Her features were delicate and kind.
She took my breath away. It was the face I’d been dreaming about for twelve years, and there she was, right in front of me. I stayed out of the light. I couldn’t let her see that it was me.
Tears came to my eyes. I hadn’t shed a tear in years.
“There is nothing wrong with my driving,” she said. “What were you thinking, walking out here at night? How do you expect people to see you?”
God, it was all I could do not to run to her and put my arms around her. I wanted her so badly, but another side of me was terrified. What if she recognized me and rejected me? I was dirty. I was disheveled. What woman in their right mind would want me walking back into her life?
“Just leave me,” I said. “I’ll be all right.”
She looked at me, trying to see me in the darkness.
There was a long silence.
I was terrified she’d recognized me, but then she said, “You know what? If I wasn’t feeling guilty for almost killing you, I’d get in my car right now and leave you here.”
Her hair glowed in the headlights like gold. I wanted to grab it in my fist. Her body was just crying out to be fucked. Just looking at her was making my dick throb like a beating heart.
I can tell when a woman needs to be fucked. I can pick up on that sexual tension the way a dog can smell fear. It’s an instinct. If there’s a woman nearby and she hasn’t been laid properly, I can smell it.
Faith had sexual frustration written all over her.
Realizing it moved me to the verge of tears. My voice broke. I prayed she couldn’t see.
I was thrilled. After twelve years, anything could have happened. She could have found the love of her life. She could have married him. She could have been with anybody. But I could sense it. There was no doubt in my mind she was still alone.
She still had my mark on her. I could feel it with my soul. She hadn’t given herself to another man. She’d waited for me.
She’d waited for me.
I couldn’t believe it. After all these years, she’d waited for me.
She turned and began walking back to her car angrily, her heels clinking. I watched her walk. Even in the dark I could tell her ass was swaying in a sexy, side-to-side motion.
“Hold on,” I said.
She slowed down but didn’t turn back.
“I’ll take a ride,” I said.
She paused as if thinking about it.
“Get in the car,” she said.
She’d waited. Twelve years, and she’d waited. I was sure of it.
Chapter 24
Faith
IF IT WASN’T FOR THE fact that I’d almost killed him, I’d never in a million years have let a man like that into my car. He was like everything I stood against in life, the exact opposite of what I was looking for. I mean, I could hardly see him, but he seemed like a criminal. I’d learned my lesson long ago.
Stay away from men like that.