Knowing that she has my name permanently inked on her skin is fucking with me so bad that I can’t even think straight. She can get my name tattooed on her body, but she acts as if she doesn’t want shit to do with me. It has my chest aching at just the thought.

“A fucking tattoo, man,” I mumble while looking back up at Cale. “My name branding the inside of her perfect little thigh. Do you know how bad that screws with my head?”

He watches me as I take a long drag of my cigarette and slowly exhale. “I guess you both had it a lot deeper than you thought, man. She obviously loved you and missed you or else she wouldn’t have gotten it. Plus, no other guy wants to see that shit, so I doubt she’s seriously dated anyone since you. Think back to when you got yours. What made you do it?”

I take another drag while running my hand through my hair. I don’t even need to think about this one. “I missed her so damn bad that the thought of her made it hard to breathe. It still does, man. It’s been four damn years and I feel exactly the same about her. It kills me to think about all the time we have missed out on. No other girl compares to her, never will. They are simply temporary fill ins for what I wish I still had.” I toss my cigarette and pull both hands through my hair in frustration. “I’m getting her back, man. I don’t care what it takes.”

Cale nods his head in understanding and grips my shoulder. “Make sure she sees that. It may hurt a shit ton getting there, but it will be worth it in the end. All she has to do is see that.” He watches me as I toss my cigarette down and rub my hand down my short beard. “It’s all good, man. You need to relax a bit. Give it some time. You remember that stupid shit saying we used to hear as adolescents? The one that goes, if you love something set it free and if it comes back it was meant to be?”

I look up; my interest slightly peeked. “Well, she’s back isn’t she? Time, man. Just give it time.”

“Yeah. Sure,” I mutter. “Time . . . because four years isn’t enough damn time.” I walk past Cale and into my garage, shoving my head back under the hood of his truck.

It’s been five days since I have seen Onyx and I’m starting to go insane. My patience is wearing thin and I’m not sure how much longer I can wait before I show back up at Vixens and take her my damn self. I’m doing my best not to push her away again. It’s a lot harder than I expected, so I’m spending my time trying to occupy myself anyway I can.

I’m lost in my own little messed up world, doing my best to concentrate on Cale’s truck, when I hear a set of heels pounding up the driveway.

“Holy shit,” Cale mumbles. “If you are Onyx then I can see why my guy is so screwed up in the head right now.”

I toss down my wrench and grip the edge of the hood, trying my best to keep my cool. The thought of Onyx possibly being here gets my heart pounding. I try my hardest not to get my hopes up, but knowing that she has no clue where I even live is making it slightly difficult. It could be one of numerous girls that I have brought here in the past, but what if it’s her? That means she premeditated coming here and had to find out from someone else how to get here.

“So, you’ve heard of me?” Onyx’s voice comes out cool and calm, causing my grip on the hood to tighten. “Hemy.”

I release the hood and turn around to face her, leaning my back against the truck. I look her over in her short black shorts and white tank top. I can’t help but to admire her stunning beauty. She always did take my breath away, even before the dark side took her, but I can’t deny it looks damn sexy on her.

Her legs are long, slender and well sculpted, making those shorts look as if they were made just for her. Perfection. They’re hard not to stare at, and her hair that was once a strawberry blonde is now a platinum blonde, her curls falling just below her tight little ass. The sight of her is enough to take any man’s breath away.

“I’m guessing you paid Mitch a visit?” She nods her head. “Yeah. Figures he wouldn’t tell me.”

I tilt my head to Cale before reaching in my pocket for my keys. I toss them to him and he quickly catches them. “What’s this for, man?”

“Take my truck. Come back after work and I’ll have yours ready.” I give him an impatient look as he just stands there staring. “Any day now.”

Cale looks at Onyx while backing away with a smirk. “Take it easy on the guy.” He winks before turning away and jogging to my truck.

Onyx walks over and stops right in front of me. Her eyes search mine for a moment before she pulls them away. “I need to ask you something and I need you to be-”

“Yeah,” I answer, already knowing what her question is going to be. It’s the one thing she wanted the whole time we had been together. “I’m clean. For three years now.”

She looks back up and her eyes soften for a brief moment before she puts her guard back up. “How do I know you’re telling the truth? That kind of life isn’t easy to give up.”

I take a step closer and lean down close to her face. Our lips are so close to touching that it takes all my strength to not kiss her. “I may have been a piece of shit, but did I ever lie to you?”

Hurt flashes in her eyes before she quickly shakes it off. “I don’t know,” she whispers. “Do you even know?”

A pain aches in my chest, knowing what she means. I was so damn messed up most of the time that I don’t even remember a lot of shit that happened. “I would like to believe that I know.” I wrap my hands in the back of her hair liked I used to in the past. Her eyes close as I start to massage my fingers through it. “I’ve missed this.”

I press my body against hers, causing her to let out a small moan. “I can’t think when you touch me like this, Hemy. You should stop. Now,” she says breathless.

“I can’t think when I look at you. I never could.” I turn us around and back her into the garage and against Cale’s truck. I can tell how much my body against hers is breaking her willpower, and I can’t help but to use it to my advantage. I press my leg between her thighs and grind into her. “You feel good in my arms, baby. You see how good this feels?”

“Hemy. I didn’t come here for this.”

“Answer me,” I breathe. “We’ve always been honest with each other. Don’t change that now.”