A painful surge rushed through his chest when he saw the tearstains on her face. He leaned down and kissed each reddened spot.
She stirred beneath him, and her eyes fluttered open. “Gray?” she whispered.
“Yes, baby, it’s me.”
Shadows fell over her eyes, and he could sense her withdrawal. As though she was steeling herself against him.
It damn near broke his heart.
Not wanting her to withdraw even further, he reached for her and pulled her gently into his embrace. He held her close, absorbing the fact that she was safe and alive. She felt fragile and oh so very precious in his arms.
“I couldn’t bear to lose you,” he said, his voice catching with emotion. “These last few days have been hell, when all I’ve wanted to do is hold you, touch you, tell you how much I love you.”
She went still against him. Then she pulled slightly away until their gazes met. “I needed some time to think,” she said quietly.
He reached out to cup her face in his hand. “Faith, I didn’t use you as bait. I didn’t set up our time at the beach house to lure Samuels out. I would never do that to you.”
She put a finger over his lips. “I know, Gray. Pop told me what happened. I understand. He told me that he asked you not to tell me about the potential danger I was in. He feels terrible.”
His brows drew together in confusion. “Then why…I don’t understand. If you know…” He stopped and started over again. “Why are you upset?” he finally spit out.
Deep sadness welled in her eyes. His heart dropped to his stomach. God, he’d do anything to take that sadness away.
She looked away as a tear slipped down her cheek. He reached up and thumbed it away. “Oh, baby, don’t cry. Tell me what’s wrong so I can fix it.”
She looked back at him. “You can’t.” She took a deep, shuddering breath. “Gray, I understand why you did what you did. I’m not angry. I accept that you didn’t come to the beach house in order to draw your partner’s killer out. What I can’t accept is the fact that nothing that happened was real. I can’t live with the fact that you only gave me what you knew I wanted in order to get close to me, in order to get information and then ultimately to protect me. You were so sure I was playing games and only wanted a fantasy, but what were you doing if not providing a facade for me?”
“Faith, oh my God—”
She shook her head. “No, let me finish. I want you. God, I want you. But only if it’s real. I can’t live with the fact that I’ve found exactly what I want and need so badly if it’s all an act. I don’t want it if it’s not real.”
He framed her face in both hands, urgent, his need to make her hear him, his heart, all consuming. “Listen to me, Faith. And listen good. I love you. You. Not some idea of what I’ve always wanted. Not some fantasy that I think I need to give you. I. Love. You. You.
“God almighty, it was never a game. Never. It couldn’t have been more real for me. I hated having to deceive you. I was determined to tell you the truth, even though Pop wanted me to remain silent. But when I got here, and you looked so vulnerable, all I could think about was protecting you. I didn’t want you to hurt. Ever. And I paid for that. I paid dearly.
“I love you, baby. I love you so damn much it hurts. I ache.
I’ve never loved another person as much as I love you. I want you. But I want it all. Love, marriage, your complete and utter surrender. I will spend the rest of my life taking care of you and never give you another reason not to trust me. If only you’ll offer me that trust again.
“I need you, Faith.”
She looked faintly shell-shocked as she stared back at him. There was so much emotion reflected in her wide eyes. Love. Fear. Hope. Uncertainty.
He found himself holding his breath as he waited for her response. An eternity passed before slowly she nodded.
“Oh, yes,” she said softly. “I’ll give you my trust. And my love.” She threw herself into his arms.
He gathered her tight and buried his face in her hair. His fingers grazed across the bandage at the base of her skull, and he closed his eyes.
“What about your job?” she asked, her voice muffled by his chest.
He gently pulled her away and touched her face, unable to keep his hands away from her. “I have to go back to Dallas and take care of a few things. Attend Mick’s funeral…and give the department notice. But then I’m coming back. There’s nothing for me there anymore. Pop wants me to stay on and work for him here.”
Joy radiated from her face. She smiled, and for the first time in days, the sun shone on his heart.
“I love you, Faith. I need you. There will never be another woman who completes the other half of my soul the way you do.”
“I love you too,” she said. “No one will ever understand me the way you do.”
He leaned forward to kiss her. Lightly, reverently, their lips touched.
“Can we go home now?” he asked. “I want you with me, next to me, touching me, in my bed.”
She smiled. “Yes, take me home.”