Authors: C.H. Carter
Tags: #romance, #murder, #mystery detective, #parannormal romance, #love adventure
“
Faith, I’m going to help take your
clothes off now, darling. Let me get your earpiece first, and then
we’ll get your clothes off.” Trey slipped the earpiece from her ear
remembering she’s still wearing the gun strapped to her thigh and
the knife encased in her bra. Slipping Faiths top off, he unhooked
her bra taking it off as he unzipped her skirt, letting it fall to
her ankles. Then he unhooked her holster from her thigh. “Don’t
fall, baby. I have to put your gun and earpiece away. I’ll be right
back.” Trey hurried to place her weapons away only to come back and
find her unmoved, however, crying softly this time.
Trey removed his clothes then walked into the
shower, picking Faith up holding her against the shower wall as he
shampooed her hair. Massaging her scalp as he washed her hair, the
sobs slowed. He took his time shampooing and conditioning her
beautiful hair. Then he grabbed the sponge and body wash. He
scrubbed her body gently. Telling Faith how beautiful she was and
that he loved her. Trey realized she’s not saying anything but not
complaining as he showered her off.
Trey softly whispered, “Faith, I want you to listen
to me. What happened in the bar tonight wasn’t fair to you. I’m so
sorry. Please imagine as I wash you that we are washing away all
the bad things that has happened to you. After we get our showers,
I’ll order pizza and something to drink. We’ll eat in tonight and
talk everything over when you’re feeling better.” Washing her body,
Trey thought back to the time when her body was his and only his.
Her body was so beautiful he couldn’t help but get aroused when he
gazed at her soft curves.
Faith took the sponge from Trey’s hands and started
to wash his body tenderly. She started at his chest working her way
down. He moaned as she touched him. Faith knew how to turn him on
without even touching him, however, now she did nothing to entice
or seduce him. Yet, Trey couldn’t help but tremble with desire.
She finally spoke, “I know, I still love you and I
want you, Trey. I need you in my life. We still have plenty of
issues to work out before that can happen. I hope you
understand.”
Trey shook his head in agreement, saying nothing as
they rinsed off then getting their towels. Faith dried off first,
getting the robes that were hanging on the bathroom door and handed
one to Trey. He took her robe, putting it on her shoulders and slid
into his own. Then picked Faith up and carried her to bed.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Faith
Broken
Faith sat quietly on the bed as Trey ordered pizza.
She thought to herself, “Tonight has been the worst night of my
life besides the night mom and dad was murdered. There’s so much to
talk about with Trey. I want to discern why he didn’t tell me what
happened to Dawn. He knew she was my best friend. I didn’t even
recognize her when I went to the crime scene. What happened to her
that made her so afraid someone was going to kill her? Did she
think her own father or his men would come after her? What had she
done to make her father want to hurt his own daughter?”
Faith knew she broke emotionally tonight. Too much
had happened at one time. She couldn’t believe Cash came back into
her life again. She wondered what he thought when she left him in
the restroom sprawled out on the floor. She’s sure he wasn’t happy
with her. While Trey ordered pizza, Faith changed into some
nightclothes that Ty must had bought when he prepared the safe
house for them.
After she came out of the bathroom, Trey questioned
her, “Do you feel better now?”
“
Yes, but let’s not talk about
anything right now. I want to get my thoughts together”
“
Take all the time you need. We’ll
eat and get some rest; maybe you’ll feel more like talking in the
morning.” They sat in silence as Faith’s thoughts went back to Cash
once again.
She remembered seeing Cash for the first time when
they were in school. He didn’t talk to anyone. He was such a loner.
Then a bunch of Faith’s friends decided to have a party down by the
river. All the younger kids from town were going to be there. She
saw him from a distance with those piercing blue eyes and rippled
muscles that made him look so sexy. Faith recalled Cash glancing
her way. The sweat popped out on her forehead and the hair on the
back of her neck stood up with desire. She couldn’t stop
fantasizing about what he could do with that gorgeous body.
Trey interrupted her thoughts, “You’re thinking
about Cash again aren’t you?”
“
Yes, I’m thinking about the first
time we met. I didn’t care what everyone was saying about him. My
friends kept telling me he was going to hurt me. I wanted a reason
to get close enough to touch him. I had to get to know him. But he
didn’t seem to notice me that night.”
Trey laughed. “He had to notice someone as beautiful
as you, Faith.”
“
No, he acted like I didn’t exist.
You see, we had the money group, the smart kids and then the beer
drinking, mud ripping, country boys. However, Cash didn’t fit into
any of those groups. He was sitting alone drinking on the tailgate
of his truck. I went over to him and said hello. He didn’t have
much to say, but I lingered trying to make conversation. He seemed
annoyed, but I needed him with a passion. He moved to leave and I
said don’t go. When he turned his face back to me, I couldn’t help
but kiss him. He pushed me away, telling me to follow him. He
started walking way too fast. I almost had to run to keep up with
him.” Faith stopped speaking as if she was going back in time to
that very moment. Trey reached over and took her hand, giving her
the courage to continue speaking.
“
He stopped underneath a big tree
on the edge of the river. I was out of breath and covered in sweat
by the time we stopped. He pushed me against the tree, grabbing the
back of my head, kissing me.” Faith glanced at Trey to see his
reaction so far.
He gently propped her to continue speaking. “It’s
okay, Faith. Please tell me about Cash. I know you cared deeply for
him. Maybe you still love him. We’ll figure it all out a little at
a time.”
“
Thanks, Trey, I want to work out
my feeling for him and talking to you may help. So where was I? I
realized I needed him more than he wanted me. However, I didn’t
care so I started pulling his jacket and shirt off. Before I knew
it, we were on the ground. He never spoke a word to me. He brushed
my hair back and kissed me gently on the forehead when we were
finished. He picked up my clothes, tossing them to me. He dressed,
starting to walk away, he said, ‘Do you always follow strangers
into the woods?’ He didn’t wait for my answer. I had to run to keep
up with him. The way he was acting, I couldn’t believe we had just
been together. Then he acted as if I were annoying him. I felt the
tears starting to well up in my eyes. The only words I could say
were screw you! You son of a bitch! You’re nothing but a Jerk!
Trey, then he stared at me and said, ‘Funny thing you say screw
you. I’m pretty sure you just did.’ He got in his truck, driving
away.”
Trey took Faith’s hand and quietly said, “He acted
like a jerk, darling. I don’t know how he could have been so cruel.
On the other hand, I don’t understand how you fell in love with
Cash when he treated you badly.”
“
That’s something I have to figure
out Trey. Talking to you helps me see things clearer. I know
hearing all this must be hard on you.”
Trey shook his head. “It’s hard, but I want to know
everything about you. You don’t remember some of your past. Please
tell me as much as you remember. It may trigger your memory. So
where were you? Cash just left you crying?”
“
Yes, my friends wanted to know
what happened. I was ashamed. I couldn’t tell them anything. All I
could do was cry and say he’s a big friggin’ jerk.”
Faith sat quietly again, thinking back to her days
and night with Cash. Then she continued to tell Trey what happened
between her and Cash. She emotionally said, “Weeks went by, he
never spoke or even looked my direction. My heart was broken. How
could I feel love for this jerk with no heart? Something about him
gave me a rush that I’d never felt before. I craved him even if he
didn’t want anyone to know about me. He left town soon after we
were together. I continued to wish he were still here. Everyone I
dated or touched reminded me of him.
“
I moved to California and that’s
when I went wild and crazy. I did all kinds of stupid things. I
continued to dream about Cash. When I saw one of my friends
overdose and die right in front of me. I moved back home and
started dating again. One night some friends and I went out to have
a few drinks. We wanted to hear the new band everyone was
recommending. I caught a glimpse of him as I walked through the
door of the bar. He was singing. I couldn’t believe it was Cash.
When his song ended, he walked off the stage and came straight over
to me. He said, ‘Dance with me love.’ He took me by the hand
guiding me to the dance floor. He whispered, ‘When this song is
over go straight out the back door. And wait for me.’
“
So when the dance ended I told my
friends I needed to go to the restroom. I went straight out the
back door. Without even thinking about the last time, I saw him. He
was already outside waiting. He grabbed me, kissing me as if we had
been together forever. His hands were all over me. I desired his
touch. He wanted me to meet him after the bar closed. I told him I
couldn’t but he said you will and I’ll meet you in the parking lot
beside the railroad tracks. I made excuses to my friends and met
him. He drove me to this big beautiful house outside of town, but
we went to a camper out back. I kept saying no but gave in to
everything he wanted to do over and over. I stayed all night with
him. Cash called me regularly for a couple of months. I would go
running the minute he called. I hated myself for not being strong
enough to say no and mean it.”
Trey turned Faith’s face to him, saying, “Love is a
funny thing. It has a mind of its own. We can’t pick and choose who
we love Faith. We only love from the heart not our minds.”
Faith gently traced Trey’s face with her fingers as
if she were seeing him for the first time through her fingertips.
“Trey, I need you in my life. I know you will always be a part of
me. And I never want a day to go by without you in it.”
He said, “We’ll take this slow and start all over. I
need you, Faith, but I want to know you’re over Cash. So was the
two months the end of your relationship with him?”
“
No, I went months without seeing
him. He came in and out of my life when it was convenient for him.
He would leave a room key in my car while I was at work. I would
see the key knowing it meant spending the afternoon or possibly the
night with him. Sometimes he would be gentle and loving. Then other
times he would be rough, almost violent, but I wasn’t ever afraid
of him. I think it added to the excitement of being with him. He
never asked for anything except for me to show up and be with him.
He had the ability to make me feel like the only woman in the
room.
“
I could never say he used me
because I wanted him. I think we both were completely broken. We
knew nothing about each other except the moments we spent together.
Our lives had too much baggage. It would’ve ruined everything. Our
time together was exciting and fun. I fantasized about so much
more. The last time I saw him, he promised to call me that night.
We were going to spend the weekend together. I was heartbroken when
he never called again.”
The doorbell rang. Trey pulled his gun out and
checks to see who it was. Of course, it’s the pizza. All that
talking had made Faith hungry. They sat cross-legged on the bed and
devoured the pizza, falling into a comfortable silence as they
ate.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Trey
She’s never going to forgive me!
Trey sat watching Faith finish her pizza, he’s so
glad she was feeling better. After talking about Cash, he
understood how confused she was about the crazy jerk. He hoped she
realized the kind of man Cash was before he got a chance to win her
over again. Trey smiled to himself, knowing he loved and wanted the
best for Faith. The best for her right now was to explain to her
about Dawn. He only prayed she would understand and forgive him for
not telling her about everything.
They finished their pizza and the bottle of wine Ty
must had put in the refrigerator. Trey cautiously asked, “Faith,
are you ready to hear about Dawn now?” She shook her head in
agreement. Trey softly said, “Please believe I never thought
everything would turn out the way it did in the end. I took the
case because I knew you were too close to the family to be
objective.” She started to disagree then stopped. She knew he’s
right this time. “Eli gave me the background on her case. He said
she was selling drugs for her father. Faith, she wasn’t selling a
little. She had contacts all over the world. She wasn’t using her
name she was using yours.”
“
What? No way! Trey, she
wouldn’t do anything to hurt me.”
“
Yes, Faith she would and she was
using your name. We bugged her house, even Mr. Moore thought he was
talking to you. She perfected her voice so well that it almost
fooled me. We have the tapes and when you’re ready, you can listen
to them. She said things like ‘Hi, Daddy, it’s your favorite little
girl, Faith. I sold lots of groceries for you. I need some more.
Our business is growing like crazy.’ ‘Yes, Daddy, I know what you
want me to tell you.’ Then she would talk filth to him. My guess is
she was talking him off. Did you ever have to do things like that
for him?”