Intimate Strangers (26 page)

"But the worst was when I came here to the apartment to take you back home and I realized you had run away. I called everyone I could think of, including Ted. When he said he hadn't seen you or heard from you, we decided we'd better start searching." Roarke shuddered. "When I think of you wandering around this city all night, not knowing where you were…"

Sara wrapped her body protectively around him again. "I ran away because I couldn't face you, Roarke. I loved you so much and Suzanne had led me to believe you two were living together. It just reinforced my belief that you thought of me as your unwanted burden. I couldn't stay here and see the two of you together, see your love for each other. I had to get away. I didn't stop to think about where I was going or what I was going to do. I couldn't remember myself as the person you seemed to despise so much and I couldn't understand how I could be what I am now, with the feelings I have, and also be the person you remembered so bitterly. Every time a piece of the past was revealed, I couldn't believe I was so shallow and mean. The only thing I knew was that I loved you and I couldn't stand to live with your anger or your pity any longer." Sara bowed her head as the memory of that frightening night alone in the city flashed through her mind.

Roarke kissed the top of her head and put two fingers under her chin, lifting it so her eyes would meet his. "We've done a lot of foolish things, my love. We've hurt each other and, in the end, nearly destroyed each other. Now we have our new start, Sara. The new beginning we've both been praying for."

"Yes, we do," Sara smiled into his eyes.

"I need you, I want you. I don't want to exist without you," he said huskily, taking her in his arms.

"And I don't want to live without you." Sara snuggled against him. "I'm glad it's over, it's finally over. Our past, present, and future have at last all fallen into place." She raised her lips to meet his as his arms closed around her, enveloping her in his warmth. Slowly, sensuously, their bodies moved together, building a passion that had existed in their past and bound them together forever.