Fire Burns Hot ((An FBI/ Romance Thriller~ (Book 5)))

by Kelley, Morgan

  * * *

  “Here we are,” stated Julian, pulling up to the cabin. They’d made it there in really good time, and he was excited to see her in his surroundings. “Home sweet Rez,” he said laughing.

  Tori took it in, but didn’t say a word.

  “Are you still pissed at me?” he inquired, getting out and walking to her side of the vehicle. “Do I really need to start running? Or were you just angry?”

  She just glared at him.

  “Okay, I’ll take that as a yes. Well how about I introduce you to the two ladies in my life,” he offered, grinning at the look on her face.

  “Don’t you think you’ve screwed with me plenty today, Julian?” she stated, refusing to take his hand.

  He knew he probably should have told her about his family, but then she wouldn’t have come with him. Julian wasn’t sure why he wanted her there with him so badly, but he did. “I tell you what, I’ll give you the tour, and if you’re still pissed then you can stay here while I run the presents over to my nieces and nephews.”

  “Really?”

  “I swear,” he answered. “If after seeing my life, you still don’t want to see more than I’ll understand and not force you to be part of it.”

  She didn’t like how he phrased that. “Julian, do you get that this isn’t about not about ‘liking’ your life? It’s about how you manipulated the situation and took away my choice and free will. Essentially you kidnapped me and brought me here as a prisoner, with the intent of parading me in front of your family.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been accused of date abduction before. This may be a first.” Julian was grinning. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me?” he pleaded, staring at her unwaveringly. “Am I worthy of redemption?”

  Tori sighed because he was more than worthy, and she bet he knew it too. “Just show me your ladies and start the tour.”

  Julian took her hand regardless of how mad she still looked. Walking around the back of the cabin, he whistled and ten seconds later two mares ran from their little dwelling.

  She was enthralled with them both. They came to the fence and sniffed the air, waiting for Julian to stroke them. When he did they stomped and waited for more attention.

  “Want to touch them?” he asked, rubbing both their noses. “They’re the loves of my life.”

  Tori stepped closer and held out her hand, and the black one nudged her palm with her nose. Instantly, she fell in love.

  “Her name’s Wakanda,” he said, stroking her neck. “It means ‘possesses magic powers’.”

  Tori repeated the name and the mare replied. “I love her already. She’s absolutely beautiful and the name is very apropos.”

  Julian grinned and relaxed. The horses were kind of his test with a woman. Animals were a good judge of character and his were pros at it. “This one is Weeko and it means ‘Pretty’.”

  Tori stepped even closer, and ran her hand over the white mare’s neck. “Hello Weeko, I’m Tori,” she said, smiling up at the white horse.

  Suddenly, Weeko nudged her so hard, she almost fell over.

  She laughed and went back to the horse like it didn’t matter. “Yes, you’re strong. I get it. You can be the boss. I’m just merely the woman.”

  When the second horse began chewing on her hair, Tori didn’t even flinch. “They’re gorgeous Julian. I’d be riding them every second of the day. Screw the real world. They’d be a welcomed distraction.”

  Julian fell in love right there and then. The woman just made him tumble. Here she was talking to his horses and not even caring that the one was getting saliva in her hair. “When I’m not working I like to ride all day. I take one out and then come back and take out the other.”

  Weeko tried to knock her over again, and Julian caught her before she fell.

  “Here feed her this apple,” he said, grabbing one out of the bin. “She thinks you’re hiding the prize, and she’ll beat you into submission until you give her what she wants. Out of the two, she’s the boss.”

  Tori waited for him to cut up the apple with his pocket knife. “Weeko and Wakanda, you want some apple?” she asked, holding the pieces in her hands, feeding them both at the same time. “I think you’re both amazing.” Quickly, she dropped a kiss on the nose of the black mare and then the white one. “Leave the fingers; I need those to shoot with.”

  “Still mad at me?” he asked, watching her love the horses and build an attachment, much like he had when he’d seen them.

  “Hell no, this made up for it all.”

  Then he threw it out there. “Going to come with me tonight?” he inquired, hoping she’d not make him go alone.

  “Yeah, that’s going to depend on one thing.”

  He stared at her emotionless. “On what exactly?”

  Tori ran her hands on the necks of the mares. “If you let me ride one of them tomorrow.”

  Julian relaxed and grinned. “We’re resorting to blackmail, huh?”

  Tori just winked at him.

  “Luckily for you, that’s something I get.”

  * * *

  Cutting out early for the day was a luxury that the three directors didn’t often get the opportunity to do. Being at the top of the FBI food chain meant long hours carrying the weight and all the responsibility on their shoulders. Not that any of them minded, but sometimes it was nice to be able to sneak out and just be normal people for a change.

  Walking into the house, there was the smell of cooking food and the sound of CJ screeching above the low hum of Christmas music. Wyler had started to make dinner for them and apparently, CJ was handling the drooling and serenading.

  Elizabeth dropped her gun and badge on the counter, kissed her father-in-law, and then stole her son from his highchair. “Mommy is kidnapping you and not letting you go,” she whispered into his ear and began kissing him.

  CJ giggled and drooled more.

  Wyler watched her with his grandson and grinned. “Hi boys, welcome home,” he said, grabbing two beers out of the fridge. “Want some wine, Elizabeth?” he asked.

  “Maybe later, Dad. I’m too busy trying to eat CJ,” she said laughing. “Was he a good boy today?”

  “Little Callen James is always an angel, he probably could teach his uncle something,” answered Wyler, as he watched his sons staring lecherously at Elizabeth.

  “Hey!”

  “Sweetheart, stick your finger in his mouth on the top,” suggested Wyler, knowing she loved being part of his milestones and this was a big one.

  Immediately, Elizabeth burst into tears at her discovery.

  All three men looked alarmed at the sudden outburst. At first Ethan was worried that something was wrong with his child.

  Callen placed his beer on the counter and rushed to her side. “Angel, are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with complete concern. Elizabeth wasn’t a weeper and this was completely out of character.

  “He’s getting his first tooth, and growing up on me,” she said between sniffles.

  “Oh baby, it’s okay. We didn’t miss this one. We got to see it happen. Don’t be sad.”

  Elizabeth nodded and leaned against Callen as the tears slowed down. She kissed her son repeatedly, wishing she could bottle these moments of him being a baby for the rest of her life to relive. “I love you, CJ,” she whispered.

  Ethan would always love his wife, but whenever she went all maternal and soft over their child, he fell for her even more. Elizabeth was a great agent and boss, but she was an excellent mother, and to him that was more important. He remembered how great his mom was, and now his son was going to have those same memories all through his life.

  “Why don’t you three get changed, and we can start the Christmas celebration,” suggested Wyler, now believing that his dream was right. Elizabeth was hyper-emotional and that meant one thing to him.

  Pregnancy.

  “I’ll take CJ with me, Dad,” said Elizabeth. “I bought him Christmas jammies.”

  Ethan laughe
d. “That’s all he wears, so how will this be different?”

  Elizabeth stuck her tongue out at him, starting for the stairs. Up in her room she stripped quickly, and got into pajamas herself. If you were going to spend Christmas Eve on the couch looking at a Christmas tree, you wanted to be comfortable.

  Callen pulled on his own drawstring pants and a t-shirt.

  Ethan dressed pretty much the same way and had his wife’s attention.

  “I shouldn’t be surprised that you’re wearing black on Christmas Eve, but yet I am.” Elizabeth crossed her arms. Callen had pulled on holiday pajamas she’d bought him, but not Ethan. “Here I actually believed you’d try to be festive.”

  Blackhawk laughed. “Baby, if I put on clothing that wasn’t black, you’d think something was up or I was out of my mind. I’m doing it for you, and you should be damn appreciative,” he gave her the famous Blackhawk grin. “Callen is your clothing monkey, not me.”

  “If it’ll get me more sex, I’ll wear her pajamas next,” Whitefox admitted. “Take a lesson from your baby brother, Ethan.”

  Elizabeth gave up. She shook her head and went to Ethan, giving him a kiss. When he tried to grab her lecherously, she pulled away laughing. “Not in front of the boy child. You’ll turn him into a womanizing manic like both of you.”

  Callen snickered. “Is that how cavemen are made? I thought it was genetic, and he was already a carrier for the man-lust gene.”

  Elizabeth lifted an eyebrow. “Oh laugh it up both of you. One day we might have a daughter, and who’s going to be laughing when the boys start circling the fort?”

  Callen’s body tightened at the idea that one day he might have a child of his own. Deep down it was his secret wish. He wanted to be a father in the worst way. He watched his brother with CJ, and it made his heart ache. Not that Ethan ever restricted how much he was able to love his nephew, but to have his own child would be amazing.

  Ethan didn’t like the idea of boys chasing down his daughter. On their wedding when he was able to whisper his one dream to the butterfly before sending it off into the air, he wanted a little girl in the worst way. His heart raced at the idea they may have a smaller Elizabeth running around one day. Then he thought about it. Could he handle two bundles of trouble?

  “Any boys that try to date our girls are certifiable,” Callen stated, dropping his gun in the safe and grinning.

  “I’ll shoot any boys that come near my daughter,” Blackhawk stated, emphatically.

  Callen shrugged when she looked at him. “I’ll help him hide the body. We’re used to being tossed in jail together.”

  Elizabeth laughed so hard. “You two are out of control. Let’s go down and have dinner with dad, because there are presents and that’s the best part of Christmas. Well, that and eating until you toss.” In her case, that was a distinct possibility.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen that on a greeting card before,” snickered Callen.

  “Maybe there should be,” she answered, winking at the men.

  “Yeah, greeting card writer is something you shouldn’t ever try to get on your resume, Elizabeth,” stated Blackhawk. “It’s not one of your skills.”

  “Oh really, Ethan. What exactly are my skills?” she asked, dying to hear his answer for that one. Callen was laughing beside her, and she was working hard not to join him.

  “You’re sleeping with two men and keeping them both very happy. I think that’s the best skill a lady can have,” he answered, honestly. “We don’t need to put that on a card.”

  “Spoken like a true man.” She puckered up to give him a kiss, and when he leaned down to accept the kiss, she sucker punched him in the ribs.

  “Hey now! Settle down there woman. It’s Christmas. Peace and love, not beating down your men.”

  Elizabeth laughed and for that matter, so did CJ. “I love you both, but I will ass kick you right onto the couch on Christmas Eve.”

  Neither man doubted it, but both were very willing to take the risk just to make her laugh.

  “Yes ma’am!” They saluted.

  She just shook her head as they both laughed “Let’s go start the holiday you goof balls.”

  Both men followed her down the stairs, sharing a fist bump behind her back, because they knew better.

  * * *

  The tour around Julian's house was a fast one. Both of them had time to change into more appropriate clothing, and Tori was vastly grateful that she brought a simple wrap dress. Her plan was to wear it to Elizabeth’s tomorrow, but now they’d be stopping at her place for her to grab more clothing.

  Julian had a real simple cabin and didn’t decorate much. You can tell that the true pleasures in his life were in the paddock behind the house. Yes, there were pictures of quite a few of his nieces and nephews but no one else. In life, Julian was private, and in his personal life that obviously carried through.

  He gave her privacy to dress, and she found that funny since they’d been naked enough times that it shouldn’t bother either of them. Tori took it as him being a gentleman. Staring into the mirror in his bedroom, she hoped tonight wouldn’t be an unmitigated disaster.

  In her life she’d only had to meet one set of parents before, and that was when she and Quinn were home on leave. That night he proposed, and it didn’t go really well. His mother wasn’t happy that he’d picked a future wife out of the soldier pool. She wanted a woman stateside to start a family and be there to welcome her son home from war. It was very 1950’s and not anything close to what was happening in their lives. Tori once planned to be lifelong military. When Quinn died, there was no chance that was ever going to happen. It lost its luster in that alley that day. As a matter of fact, many things did.

  Now the sparkle was starting to come back, and she was pretty sure Julian had everything to do with that.

  Tori refocused on dressing, trying to put everything out of her mind. She needed to because she wasn’t ready to think about what the man outside the door meant to her quite yet.

  Right now she had a bigger issue to get through, like meeting his very large family. Tori was staggered by the notion there were five kids all together. That was a lot of people to be surrounded by at dinner.

  All she could hope was she survived and didn’t make a huge spectacle of herself.

  Taking a deep breath, she gave herself a pep talk and prayed for a huge miracle. Since coming home, large gatherings scared the hell out of her, and this was going to be no different. Only now it wasn’t only because of her fears of getting hurt, but now she had to worry about the personal aspect too.

  Hell!

  Julian dressed quickly and called his mother. He wanted to warn her that he was bringing a date. The response was pretty much like what he expected. His mother had a million questions and was excited.

  Julian never brought women home to meet his mom, because he’d never found the right one, until now. Already he knew she was it, but he was also aware it wasn’t going to be an easy journey. Tori was damaged from her past, and they’d need to work on that together. Before her, he never wanted to deal with women that had baggage, but now that all had changed. Julian would carry her the rest of his life if he could simply get Tori to accept that.

  He warned his mother to take it easy on her, and got an earful of reply on that one. Julian laughed and explained the situation to her, and his mother calmed down. Once she knew Tori was still recovering from losing three people in one year, his mom went into mothering mode.

  “Mom, she’s a soldier and had a rough tour. Take it easy on her, okay?” Julian practically begged. “She’s lived a lot that has her haunted.”

  “You bring her here immediately. I’ll make sure your sisters and brothers are on their best behavior.”

  “I love you, Mom,” he said, saying goodbye. He needed to get the presents loaded into the car.

  He only hoped bringing her wasn’t going to be a huge mistake. His family could be tough. They were loud, mostly obnoxious and hard to han
dle.

  As he looked up, she stood there watching him. Julian’s heart skipped in his chest. She was absolutely beautiful. Tori picked a simple dress in a deep green, and it made the lush red hair stand out even more.

  “Are you ready?” he said, holding out his hand.

  Tori crossed to him. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Julian handed her the car keys. “You can head on out to the car sweetheart. I’m going to carry all these out to the trunk.”

  She didn’t take the keys, instead she grabbed a bunch of presents. “I’ll help.”

  He grinned as they loaded up all the gifts. “I hope you’re hungry. My mother tends to try to over feed everyone.”

  Tori smiled. “I can’t wait. I happen to like eating very much, as you have seen from my love of pizza.”

  Julian loved how she enjoyed food. Most women were scared shitless to eat in front of a man, but not Tori. Deep down he wanted to continually feed her. She tended to be on the thin side, and he wanted to wrap her up and make sure she was taken care of daily. Yeah, he had it bad.

  Real bad!

  After they finished packing up the car, they hopped in.

  “Does your mother live very far?” she asked. “You know, in case I have to escape out the back door and run for my life.”

  He laughed. “She has a guard dog at the back door. You’d never make it past Roger. He’s vicious and will take your leg right off.”

  She honestly hoped he was kidding, but when he didn’t laugh, she wasn’t quite sure.

  They drove less than a mile, and pulled into a car lined driveway. There were screams and yells, kids charging in and out of the house, people yelling at them, and immediately Tori felt overwhelmed. Yep, here it came. She’d hoped it would stay dormant, but now the panic was there. Loud sounds and crowds of strangers were tough. It was the anxiety that someone was after her, and she tried to swallow it. It was all too reminiscent of a busy street in a warzone.