Christmas is Killing (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 3)

by Morgan Kelley

  Emma watched her husband, his eyes molten with silver fire, as he restrained her to the bed, pinning her with his hand and soon his erection.

  “I need to hear it!” he growled menacingly.

  “I’m yours, Greyson,” she answered, giving him anything he wanted in the moment. “I’ll always belong to only you,” she reassured.

  It’s when he struck, sliding deep into her body in one hard stroke.

  She gasped and arched as he invaded and stole. “Grey!”

  As he began moving, he still refused to release her hands. His Emma was pinned beneath him. Here she would stay his captive, until he found his way back from the madness. “Promise me, that you’ll be mine forever no matter what,” he ordered, watching her trying to focus, as she fought through the pleasure threatening to drown her.

  It was so hard to understand him, as the desire was ripping her apart from the inside out. “Greyson, I promise,” she moaned, quaking beneath his body.

  “More! I want more!” he demanded, pumping himself into her with abandon as he tried to embed himself forever into her life and erase the damage that Torrance Burns did to his mind.

  She was his, and he’d make sure the world knew it, one way or another.

  Emma shattered apart again and the pleasure made the room spin. “Greyson, please,” she begged, arching into him. “Kiss me,” she pleaded, wanting to taste him and offer him a way back from wherever he was trapped.

  Without thinking, he gave her what she wanted. His lips slammed against hers as he took her brutally there too. He was close to falling, tinged with the haze of the alcohol as he raided her body and mouth simultaneously.

  He was ready.

  Greyson could feel himself on the edge, and he just needed the push off. As if his wife knew, her teeth found his lip, and she nipped him. Croft’s body shook as he exploded like never before. “Emma!” he shouted as he slid into her one last time, filling her with everything in him that was once dammed back.

  He shook and buried his face in her neck as he released her hands and prayed that she would forgive him for not being careful, gentle, and his normal controlled self.

  God!

  He’d lost total control and sanity was sliding back, along with remorse.

  The room remained swathed in silence.

  “Grey?” she finally whispered.

  “Yes, Emma?” he replied, his voice finally back.

  “I love you.”

  He found no peace as the remaining pain was torn away with her words and replaced with something far worse- guilt. He’d just taken her in some sweaty romp like a maniac, and she still held him in her heart. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered, pulling away and leaving her there.

  He needed to escape it all.

  Right now, he couldn’t face her.

  Emma watched him leave and was scared out of her mind. All she could think was that she was going to lose him. Crawling to the edge of the bed, she saw the destruction of her things.

  It forebode what she feared was coming.

  Picking them up, she put them away, so he wouldn’t be upset more when he saw them ruined. Giving him a few minutes, she waited for him to get his bearings, and then they would talk.

  There was no way she’d give up. Not when her husband was at risk.

  He stood under the spray of the water with his eyes closed as he admonished himself for what he’d just done. He allowed the man who took his wife to hurt them even more, by letting him under his skin.

  Greyson let the mix of anger and bourbon cloud his judgment as he pillaged his woman. God, could this week get any worse? First, he lost her for twelve hours and now this. Sliding down the wall, he sat on the floor of the shower, fantasizing that he could slip down the drain with the water to escape.

  All he wanted now was to disappear and forget.

  Emma entered their bathroom in her robe and expected to find him showering. When she saw him on the floor, sitting under the hot spray, she immediately stripped down and went to him.

  Once inside the shower, he stared up at her with eyes so vacant that it scared her to death. “Grey, please! What’s wrong? Tell me so I can help you.”

  “Emma,” he whispered looking away from her. He desperately wanted to share the burden, but knew that he shouldn’t hurt her more. He’d already begun to build the wall between them.

  “Are you unhappy?” she asked, hoping it wasn’t with her. “Has something happened?”

  He didn't answer, not wanting to lie to her. After all, this was his big marriage rule. There could be no lies between them.

  She needed to get through to him and knew of only one way. “It’s me, isn’t it? You’re going to leave me. Have you stopped loving me?”

  He stared up at her in shock. His silence was doing the exact opposite of what he wanted. Greyson didn't want to push her away. All he wanted was to protect her. God, he wanted to wrap her in bubble wrap and hide her away from all the ugliness in the world.

  “Okay, I’ll go,” she whispered, backing away from him. When she turned, he grabbed her hand.

  “He took pictures of you while he had you,” he mumbled, barely audible over the water spray.

  “What?” That had her attention.

  “Torrance Burns stripped you and photographed you.” The pain he was feeling was unmatched by anything in his life. He had not only failed at protecting her, but another man saw his wife naked.

  Emma was creeped out, but knew that she couldn’t let it make her an emotional mess. Not now. In that moment, she needed to carry the man she loved. It was time for her to be his strength.

  “How do you know?”

  Croft told her everything, and then he apologized. “I’m sorry, Emma. I’m the worst husband ever. You deserve someone who can keep you safe. I failed miserably, and this is just more proof.”

  Now she got it. This was all weighing on her caveman’s ego. “Love muffin,” Emma reassured, as she dropped to her knees and stared into his eyes. “He’s dead, and Curtis destroyed it. It’s okay. We’re stronger than this. You and I are unbreakable,” she reassured, pulling his face to her body as he clung to her.

  “I can’t get through this alone. I need you, Emma,” he admitted, praying that she would save him.

  Greyson was drowning in it all.

  The weight of what had happened was crushing down on him and holding his life ransom, until he could find his way back.

  Emma kissed him on the top of his head, as she held him to her as he shook. “I’ve got you, babe, for the rest of our lives, I have you.”

  It was all it took.

  In the privacy of their shower, for the second time in their marriage, Greyson Croft broke and allowed his wife to hold him up and lead him home.

  * * *

  Tuesday Morning

  As he pulled from the sleep, he stared up into her face. The serene green eyes stared down at him, as her fingertips stroked his stubbly cheek. Even as they woke, she offered him peace.

  After leaving the shower the previous night, his wife tenderly cradled him against her in bed and allowed him to purge it all to set his heart free. There was no anger, hate or loathing, only tenderness and love.

  She offered reassurance and promise that they were stronger than ever. Nothing would break them as long as they stood together.

  Croft and Croft were an unbreakable team.

  “Emma, I’m so sorry about last night. I won’t ever touch bourbon again. I think it’s a bad idea.”

  She wasn’t worried. He didn't physically hurt her once during sex. Was he enthusiastic? Yes, but there was nothing except pleasure offered the entire time.

  “Grey,” she leaned down to meet his lips, offering him a good morning kiss. “You didn't hurt me. In fact, it was really quite enjoyable.”

  He searched her face for truth, finding no lies. “I didn't mean to scare you.”

  She laughed. “You didn't frighten me. I know my husband, and last night was just proof you’re stressed out.
You needed to get some aggression out, and I’m up for some wild, enthusiastic sex.”

  He truly loved his wife. She was offering him a way through the guilt. “So we can do it again?” This would be his test to see if she was really hurt by what happened.

  “Absolutely,” she smiled lovingly. “Any sex with my delicious husband is worth repeating.”

  He hugged her tightly and let the scent of her shampoo offer him solace. Croft was grateful for the woman he loved. “You’re okay with what I told you last night?” He alluded to the pictures.

  God knew that he wasn’t.

  “I’m a little creeped out by it. Since only you three saw them, and the man who did it is dead, then my secret’s safe,” she reassured.

  Greyson confessed, “I didn't look. I couldn’t. It would have killed me to see them.”

  Emma stroked his cheek and was grateful he didn't see them. “I understand. Thank you for not keeping this from me. I deserved to know.”

  He set her free. “Did I destroy your dress?” It was all coming back to him in dribs and drabs.

  “Yes, but it’s replaceable.”

  “This is going to cost me lots of money, isn’t it?”

  Emma slid off the bed laughing. “Oh yeah, it is. You better get ready for work, you’re about to be broke.”

  Croft laughed the first time in hours, and it loosened the stress in his chest. “I love you, my wife.

  She grinned over her shoulder. “I love you too, my caveman.”

  * * *

  When he woke up, Paris was alone in bed. Looking around, Tessa was nowhere to be found and her clothes were gone. Jumping up, he slipped into his boxers and raced down the stairs to find her.

  His house was vacated and the Denali was gone.

  Damn it!

  He’d screwed something up last night when they were in bed together. He thought that he had done everything right. Paris wished that he didn't suck at the relationship thing so much, because finding Tessa gone really hurt.

  He would shower and head to work, and then maybe Paris would find her there. Hopefully, she could explain what he did to make her run off.

  It pissed him off that it was another great night of sex, ruined by a morning of some sort of stupidity. He needed to figure this woman thing out, and fast.

  This guessing game was getting old.

  Tessa unlocked his door and slipped back inside carrying all the things that she needed to make him breakfast. When she had gotten up, she found his refrigerator bare. He wasn’t kidding when he said he ate out all the time.

  There were a plethora of takeout containers and some yogurt from three months before. Apparently, he was growing his own antibiotics too.

  Racing home, she grabbed her shower and dressed at a breakneck speed. Grabbing food from her refrigerator, she planned on giving him a grocery list and an ultimatum.

  Either he shopped or they slept at her place.

  Then it hit her.

  This all felt very permanent.

  Her stomach got the little butterflies, as she thought about waking up beside sexy Paris Archer for many more days to come. That thought didn't bother her at all, in fact, it made her heart race.

  Yeah, she was doomed and this was the proof.

  Tessa started breakfast and microwaved the bacon after putting on a pot of coffee. As it brewed, she scribbled out a grocery list for the man and couldn’t help but grin like an idiot.

  Tessa couldn’t believe that she was in a relationship. She had a boyfriend and it was the man she worked with all day long.

  It made her laugh as she finished the list. Starting the eggs, she prepared breakfast for her partner and significant other.

  There was more giddy laughter.

  She just couldn’t help it.

  It was all so damn crazy.

  * * *

  Paris hopped out of the shower once he finished shaving. His mind was racing a mile a minute. Would he have to crawl and beg? Could Tessa possibly do that to him? She’d given him a glimpse into bliss, only to tear it away once more.

  That just hurt.

  There was an ache that he was unfamiliar with, filling his body. Starting to dress, something was off. He could smell bacon.

  What was going on?

  Rushing to pull on his polo shirt and pants, he rushed towards the sound of someone in his kitchen. When he raced down the stairs, he found her cooking for them.

  In his space.

  Oh God!

  She came back!

  His heart stopped hurting once more. “Tessa?”

  She turned smiling at him. “Hey there! Good morning, Paris. If you want a kiss, you’ll have to come here. I just put the cheese in the eggs. It’ll go from cooked to burned in three seconds”

  She didn't have to tell him twice. He was at her side stealing a kiss.

  “I came down before and you were gone.” It was all he said, letting her find the meaning behind his words.

  “Yeah, I needed to get my clothes and shower, and then I wanted to make you breakfast. I have to say this right now, I can’t do this.”

  His face went carefully blank. “Us?”

  She pulled the eggs from the stovetop. “What?” Turning, she saw the hurt. It appeared that she wasn’t the only one with emotional baggage from her past. “Paris, no! I mean running around and having to play ‘find breakfast’. If you want me to stay here, you have to grocery shop, or we’ll have to sleep at my place, where there’s a stocked refrigerator. We don’t have time in the morning to hunt for nutrition.”

  He was definitely surprised by her words. “So, let me get this straight. You’ll stay here if I buy food for you to cook for me?” He waited for the trap that she had to be setting up. Certainly, a gorgeous woman wasn’t going to sleep with him, and then feed him, and all it would take was buying things on a list.

  He almost looked around to see where he was.

  “Uh, yes, unless you don’t want me staying here. I can go home at night.”

  Paris laughed at that. “I’m not crazy. I’m getting the better deal. I get a beautiful woman to have sex with me and cook me food. You get a bag of groceries.”

  She stopped him. “Wait, I’m getting a really good deal too, Paris. I get an incredibly handsome man who’s brilliant and sweet. That’s pretty terrific.”

  He didn't know what to say to that. Deep down, he was pretty sure that no one ever saw him like that before.

  Tessa knew he was having problems with overthinking. So, she kissed him. It was slow and deep and so full of emotion. Breaking away, she smiled at him. “Yeah, it’s a terrific deal from my end too.”

  “Thank you, Tessa,” he replied, knowing she was the only one who really got him, or saw through it all.

  “Come on, Paris. Let’s eat and get to work. Later we need to stop at my place for clothes and get some groceries.

  Who was he to argue?

  The day was turning out pretty great.

  * * *

  The team rendezvoused in the parking lot outside the FBI office building. Once they were all there, they hopped out to discuss the plan for the day.

  “Agents Archer and Brass are going to be heading to the church.” He handed them their search warrant. “Find anything that links Reverend Corey to any of the dead women. If we can find something, then we can hold him longer. If it’s a bust, he’s out sometime today. We can’t hold him much longer,” Croft stated.

  “Greyson and I are heading over to his residence. We’ll dig around in there too, and maybe find something to implicate him there.”

  Briggs chimed in, “I’m on data again, aren’t I?” he questioned, not the least bit happy.

  “I promise that we’ll let you out for good behavior later,” Greyson offered. “In fact, you can go sit in my office and work.”

  “Behind your desk?” he countered.

  Croft sighed. “Okay, but don’t make out with my picture of Emma. You’ll leave lip prints all over the glass,” he teased.

/>   “Can I pretend that I’m you and use your secretary?”

  Then, he realized they were all staring at him.

  “NO! Wait, I meant for paperwork and coffee. I didn't mean like… you know…” He glanced over at Emma. “He isn’t having sex with her, I mean…” he continued.

  She cut him off and couldn’t help but be amused. “Curtis, just go do some work before you dig the hole deeper.”

  Croft snickered. “I love having him around,” he said, hopping up into the Denali. “It reminds me of abusing Dante.”

  She snorted. “Just get us there. We have a lot to do today and don’t have time for the silliness.”

  “Want to hold my hand?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

  Emma sighed. “Greyson, what am I going to do with you?”

  His wife walked into that one.

  “Anything you want.”

  Moving through the minister’s house was creepy. Yeah, Emma was bothered by it. There were all these crosses with Jesus on them. Wherever she went in the place, it felt like they were following her with their eyes. It made her uneasy and a bit skittish. So much, that when her husband called her name, she actually jumped.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, worried about her. “It’s not like you to be this edgy.”

  “It’s all the religious icons.”

  He laughed. “You’re jumpy because of Jesus? What are you, a vampire?”

  She stared at him. “Get your chuckles out, Greyson. We’ll see who is laughing last when someone wants me sitting in his lap next time, and I turn him down.”

  She wouldn’t.

  Well, maybe she would.

  “Okay, I’ll be good,” he said, unwilling to chance that. “Come to think of it, with all these crosses, it is a bit off settling. Want to go search the reverend’s bedroom with me?”

  Emma laughed. “Yeah, I can only imagine what we’ll find hidden there.” In all her time working as a cop, if you wanted to find a dirty little secret, you searched the boudoir.