Love is Bleeding (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 4)

by Morgan Kelley

  Emma wanted it to happen in the worst way. “What if they could get married, but keep it quiet. If you’re aware, and the head honchos are, the other drones don’t need to know.”

  It was a slippery slope, and meant that option had to be put on the table for everyone else too.

  “Emma...”

  She turned and faced him. “I love you, and I have faith in you.”

  When her hands began wandering under the water, he lost the ability to focus. If he didn't get her to stop, something bad was going to happen.

  Yeah, as in sex in the cabana or right there in the pool.

  “Do you like my swimsuit, Greyson?” she purred, nipping at his ear.

  “Yes, honey, I really do.” He loved how the black of the triangles played off her really fair skin. It made a very noticeable contrast. “Don’t think I didn't notice there’s very little of it to be seen.”

  She giggled. “Wait until later when you can’t find any of it.”

  His body reacted. “Jesus, Emma,” he muttered, as she stroked him through his swim trunks. “If you keep it up, I’ll be wild like some horny teenager with no control.

  With a look over her shoulder, she noticed that the other two couples were over in opposite corners, focused on each other. That gave her an idea. Slipping beneath the water, she untied his trunks and found her prize. Emma wasn’t sure she could pull it off, but why not go for it?

  Taking him in her mouth, she used everything she had to offer him a sneak peak of what was coming.

  Croft fought to keep his face neutral, but it wasn’t easy when his wife was playing some wicked underwater games with his lower anatomy. In fact, he was struggling to not let his body go with instinct. When her mouth and hand stroked over him, he nearly lost his mind. Then, she slowly released him, only to resurface.

  “Emma,” he hissed, as his body was tight with need. “You’re a very naughty kitten.”

  She laughed. “Yes, I am.”

  “Hey you two!” Curtis yelled, getting their attention. “Want to play chicken?” With that, he went under and came up with Brynn on his shoulders. “Winner gets the biggest cabana.”

  Croft laughed. He didn't need it, since he had a perfectly suitable bedroom downstairs. But, he knew why the other men wanted it. The little hideaway was secluded from the rest. Croft couldn’t blame them.

  “Want to, Grey?” Emma asked excitedly.

  Who was he to deny his wife anything she wanted? “Works for me.” With that, he dove under, only to come up with a giggling Emma on his shoulders.

  Paris thought it all looked like a lot of fun. “Tess, want to play?”

  “No,” she said, surprising him. “I want to win. That cabana is ours, Paris.”

  He submerged, taking his place. Once up, they were ready.

  “Here are the rules,” Croft began. “The men can’t touch. This has to be all about the babes.”

  There was a chorus of snickering from the men, because no one was going to argue over that visual.

  “Ready, set, GO!”

  It had to be entertaining to see. The three women were laughing riotously, as they were trying to knock each other off. Greyson and Emma had the advantage, since he was far bigger than the other men. It made it hard to go after her.

  Brynn squealed, as Emma shoved her partner off balance, taking Curtis under with them.

  Now, it was just two. As they faced off, Croft saw the desperate determination and took one for the team. He winked at Paris, and then waited until Tessa shoved Emma. He took them down, handing the couple the victory.

  When they resurfaced, Emma was laughing. “It looks like you two get the biggest cabana.”

  Tessa slid off Paris’s shoulders and hugged him. “I told you that we were taking this one.”

  “Yeah, you certainly did, baby,” he replied, grateful to his boss. That was one hell of a gift.

  “Let’s go claim our prize.”

  Emma waited for them to be out of earshot before she spoke, “You’re a big softie, Greyson Croft,” she murmured into his ear. “Don’t think I don’t know what you just did for love.”

  He grinned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Emma.”

  “Liar,” she whispered, leaving a trail of kisses across his shoulder. “Let’s have dinner, and then leave them all alone. I happen to have plans for you downstairs in the privacy of our bedroom.”

  He reacted to her words, as usual. “Oh, well far be it for me to stop you, Mrs. Croft.”

  “You couldn’t if you tried. I plan on having my way with my sexy husband.”

  That was all he needed to hear. “Dinner!” he yelled, ready to get the night started. Already, he knew who was on the menu for dessert.

  And he couldn’t wait.

  * * *

  Carefully, the bullet was cleaned, wiped of all the prints before slipped into the gun’s chamber. There would only be one shot tomorrow, but it would be enough.

  She would fall.

  The list told the story, and her time on Earth was complete. She helped break a man who dedicated himself to the brotherhood.

  He was family.

  He was part of the team.

  Then, he was abandoned and left to be the scapegoat. Their actions had been his downfall.

  Their betrayal killed him, taking his life far too early.

  Now, it was time to offer up the final judgment. Their lives would be stolen away, just as quickly.

  Yes, tomorrow, it would be done.

  There was no need for a judge, jury, or executioner. After all, the gun, bullet, and finger which pulled the trigger would do just fine.

  The end was near for one more corrupt person.

  Then, their name could be removed from the list.

  Crossed off in blood.

  Dead with one shot.

  “It’s only fair.”

  With that, the gun was loaded, the safety was on, and it was time to stake out the location. In the morning, there would be a reaping of souls.

  And one more nail in the FBI’s coffin.

  * * *

  After devouring Chinese and plenty of wine, the real relaxation began. Curtis and Brynn headed down to the couch to watch a movie together. While they wanted to roll around naked, both knew in the back of their minds that it wouldn’t solve a thing. Instead, they opted to watch a slasher flick and make popcorn.

  Greyson and Emma waited until the other two agents headed into the secluded cabana before they escaped. If anything, Croft valued privacy, and he was willing to offer it up to people he genuinely had a fondness for.

  “Let’s go to our room,” he whispered, leading his wife to the elevator.

  Emma didn't need to say anything. She knew what her husband was doing, and it only made her love him more. “I hope you’re ready, Mr. Croft. I plan on making you beg for mercy.”

  He grinned. “Have at it, kitten. I love it when you stick your claws in me.”

  Oh, she planned to, and so much more.

  * * *

  Tessa loved the rooftop pool. It was filled with lights and cheery warm cabanas. It was something so foreign to her, but she found it becoming one of her favorite things in life.

  When Paris slid up beside her, taking his customary position at her side, Tessa’s heart began to pound.

  “Is it wrong that I want to make love to you, Tessa?”

  She ran her fingers over his face. “No, Paris, it’s never wrong.”

  “Do you think you can be quiet?” he asked teasingly.

  “Yes,” she answered, before sitting up and pulling on the string that was holding her bikini on. She watched his eyes go wide.

  “Tess! I wasn’t serious,” he said, having a hard time not staring at her breasts as they popped free. What he wouldn’t give to put his mouth all over them.

  “Live on the edge with me, Paris,” she stated, doing the same with the string around her neck. When she let the top drop, Tessa laid back on the tropical colored cushion.

&
nbsp; What was he to do? The woman he loved was lying there topless, and they were hidden from anyone’s sight. Letting any inhibitions go, he went with his gut instinct.

  She was a woman, and he was a man.

  A very aroused, turned on, and stimulated one at that.

  With his mouth, he found the swell of her breast, leaving little kisses all across her flesh. As he circled her nipple, he teased it with the tip of his tongue, until it responded to his ministrations.

  “Oh, Paris,” she murmured, as he took it in his mouth and offered her so much pleasure.

  Little waves of heat shot through her, waking up her body to the primitive call of her other half.

  As his fingers wandered lower, he tugged on the strings on each hip, setting his ultimate prize free. It had been a long couple of days without feeling this, and he needed it in the worst way.

  Tessa was his drug, and he was lost to her.

  “Paris,” she whispered, as his fingers found their mark. When they rubbed across the most sensitive part of her body, she shook and quaked.

  “Fall for me,” he whispered, lightly biting down on her peaked nipple. Immediately, his Tessa responded and broke apart.

  She couldn’t stop, even if she tried. This was always what happened with they came together in love.

  Now, she was a puddle under his willing touch.

  Tessa was his, and she knew it. After being with this man, there was no way in hell that she would ever be able to walk away from him, even if they never got married.

  She was bound by love.

  Honor.

  Her heart.

  Kissing down Tessa’s body, his mouth replaced his fingers, as he hungrily devoured the woman he adored. The taste of her filled his senses, and he couldn’t get enough. Soon, the gentle lapping became more frenetic as he hungered to satiate his need.

  He was desperate to have more of her in his life.

  When her hands were buried in his hair, he was already wild, but he fought to shove her off into the pleasure yet again.

  “Oh, Paris,” she hissed, her body bowing under his, as she fought to stay on the precipice.

  “Fall for me, baby,” he whispered, as his mouth continued to drive her crazy.

  She couldn’t help but tumble, as the colors and heat exploded around her, Tessa could feel his familiar form finding its place over her. When she opened her eyes, he was staring down into hers.

  “My turn, Paris,” she whispered, rolling with him and placing him beneath her.

  Tessa pulled on the tie that held his swim trunks closed. When he was free, she began her torture. She didn't know how many times they’d get an opportunity like this. A romantic cabana didn't just happen all the time in the life of a civil servant.

  “Tessie,” he murmured, as the contrast of her chilly fingers and warm flesh drove him wild.

  “I want you, Paris. Every day of my life, I wake up more in love and needing to have you,” she offered, before taking him in her mouth.

  His brain shut down, as his body began controlling the moment. What he longed to do was roll with her and bury himself in her body. Instead, he fought it for as long as he could.

  Paris Archer would suffer a million tortures to make her happy. All he wanted was for Tessa to find joy.

  He moaned when she ran her teeth along the underside of him.

  Tessa loved giving him pleasure. Her quiet and reserved partner needed to have his tree shaken every once in a while. Besides, the way he reacted turned her on.

  “Baby, I’m so close, you may want to stop…” he began, only to have her work him harder with her mouth. Paris fought to stay in control. As long as he didn't look, he’d be fine. When the cushion shifted, he glanced down his body.

  What he found made his heart skip. A very naked Tessa was climbing up his torso. When she perched on his hips, he knew he was a goner.

  “Tess.”

  She didn't give him a chance to say anything more. Sliding him home, they both moaned at the hot, slick slide into the depths of her body.

  “Oh, shit,” he said, fighting to not fall into the heat. If he did, this ride was over before it even started.

  Tessa braced herself over his body, her hands on his chest as she began moving. She was swamped with not lust, but love.

  It was endless.

  “Paris,” she murmured, sharing her soul with him.

  “I love you, Tessa,” he replied, focused on her witchy green eyes. From the day he first saw her, he’d been captivated, and nothing had changed.

  “I love you too,” she replied, keeping the pace. With each slide down his body, her breath caught in her chest as he filled her. “More than anything in the world,” she promised.

  When she quaked around him, his hands went to her hips as she shattered apart once more. With her body, he rolled, placing her back beneath him.

  Tessa fought to surface, only to find him laying kisses across her collarbone and throat.

  “My turn,” he whispered, driving back into her body. It wasn’t hard to lure her back into the heat with a few well-placed strokes.

  As the need built, he watched her eyes and the expression on her face. Everything he needed to know was right there. Paris was compelled to offer her even more, when he saw the delicate necklace around her throat. “Tessie, in my heart, you’re already my wife,” he murmured.

  Her eyes filled with tears as she heard the words. “Paris,” she whispered, getting ready to fall from the edge.

  With one last stroke, Paris Archer claimed what had always been his for the taking.

  Tessa’s heart.

  As they surfaced, neither spoke at first.

  “I meant it, Tess. Every word I said. Don’t doubt it or forget it.”

  She enjoyed the way he laid over her body, protectively. “I won’t, Paris my love. I won’t.”

  With that, they both let the sounds of the city below, and the pool filter, lull them into a peaceful sleep.

  * * *

  Friday Morning

  Six A.M

  Greyson wandered out of their bedroom in a pair of jeans. They were unbuttoned, and his hair was disheveled, only because his wife had just pounced as he tried to get to the coffee pot.

  It wasn’t as if he minded.

  Any time she felt the need to climb all over him, she was welcome to have at it. In fact, there’d been a good deal of fun happening in their bedroom last night.

  Once inside, Emma took him down.

  Literally.

  She knocked him onto the bed and used her mouth to make him beg and moan.

  Yeah, it had been a pretty fantastic night, and he was in a damn good mood.

  As he entered their living room, the TV was still on, and there were two sleeping people on his couch. Curtis and Brynn were wrapped around each other, and he had to smile.

  When they started dating, he was worried.

  When they broke up, he was terrified.

  Now, he was more relaxed about it.

  Luckily, his wife had pointed out the way they looked at each other, and reassured him that it would be fine. Where he expected a nuclear breakdown, there was none to be found.

  It was a small miracle.

  Hitting the off button on the remote caused his partner to stir. Being a Fed, you tended to be a very light sleeper.

  As he stared up at his boss, Curtis tried to focus. Then, it occurred to him that there was a woman lying on his body. Curtis took the moment to cuddle down further in the couch while he still had the opportunity. Who knew when this was going to happen again?

  Why waste it?

  Greyson wanted to laugh, but he didn't want to ruin his partner’s fun. Instead, he headed into the kitchen to start their day. Unlike his wife, he wasn’t going to even attempt to make breakfast. If his team was hungry, they were on their own. He wasn’t making them muffins.

  Again, he wanted to snicker at that visual.

  Beside the counter, Croft noticed that Tessa and Paris’s bags were st
ill there. That meant, more than likely, they were still in the cabana. He was glad.

  If offering up the luxury of his home was what was needed to help his team relax, he was all for it. Besides, he genuinely enjoyed all of their company.

  On the counter were his keys, and a note from his brother.

  Thanks for the use of the car. I wiped down the leather.

  Only kidding. I love you, Grey.

  ~Dante.

  Well, it was good to know his brother was home safe too. All in all, everyone had a good evening.

  Then, he saw her. His wife made him break down into a fit of laughter. As Emma sauntered into the room, there was a big, smug look on her face.

  It was priceless.

  Now, he knew what he must look like after an evening of having his wicked way with his wife.

  At the sound of his voice, Brynn stretched, opening her eyes. At first, she was disoriented, but that didn't last long. It all came rushing back, and Brynn found herself in one hell of a predicament.

  There was Croft’s laugh.

  The scent of Curtis’s cologne.

  Oh, and the proof of the agent’s arousal pressed against her hip.

  Immediately, her heart fluttered at the knowledge that he still wanted her, just as much as she wanted him.

  “Should this be awkward?” she whispered, staring into his blue eyes.

  “Do you want it to be?” he asked softly.

  As he brushed a stand of hair from her face, her heart skipped in his chest. “No, I don’t want it to be.”

  He grinned. “Then, I’m good.”

  Brynn loved how easygoing he was, but she knew that an escape was necessary, before she did something inappropriate. “I need coffee.”

  He needed so much more, but that wasn’t a conversation for the here and now. Eventually, it would have to happen.

  Letting her go, Curtis sat up. When he glanced over his shoulder, he found Emma and Greyson in the kitchen, leaning against the counter. If they’d had a comment to make about what they just saw, neither seemed to be going there. Well, they were better people than him. If the roles were reversed, he’d be busting their asses unmercifully.