Hell Is Burning

by Morgan Kelley

  It would explode and kill everyone around him.

  “First off, I’m not obligated to let you into this investigation. You’re the family of a victim. We don’t tell them everything, and you know that. We are investigating this and aren’t at liberty to tell you.”

  “Bullshit!”

  Croft cut him off. “Secondly, you’re a freaking suspect. I haven’t cleared you yet. Our team doesn’t have enough to let you in, and that’s why I can’t tell you.”

  Curtis moved toward him. “You kept me out on purpose.” When he went to swing at Greyson, the man moved back.

  “I’m warning you, Curtis. I let you wail on me once. I won’t let it happen again!”

  No one believed that he’d beat on a man lost in sorrow. That wasn’t how Greyson rolled.

  “You knew! You should have told me!”

  Greyson was moving backwards around the couch, still trying to evade the younger man. He didn't want to hurt the boy. It was obvious that Curtis was distraught. When he lunged again, Emma got in the way. Instead of hitting her, she took him to his knees with a sucker punch to his chest.

  He stared at her with wide eyes, shocked that she’d been violent with him. His mouth opened, but nothing came out.

  They couldn’t say the same for Emma.

  She grabbed him by the front of the shirt so he was face to face with her. “You will not come into our home and disrespect him. Am I clear?” she stated. “We get that you’re hurting, in fact, we all are, but you will not lash out and hit people. Did you not learn that as a child?”

  His eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry.”

  Emma let go of him. “Sit your ass on the couch, and don’t you move. If you do, you won’t have to worry about Grey beating you. I’ll do it for him. I’ve had about enough of your jackassery.”

  The man did what she said.

  Greyson watched and was really turned on. His wife was pretty sexy when she was all bossy. He kind of liked how she’d protected him. No one ever really did that before.

  She dished out pizza, trying to find her calm. She was pissed, and before they dealt with Curtis, she needed to regain her control. “Where’s Dante?”

  “He went to go get Steele. He didn't want to be here for Croft-apocalypse. Now he’s going to be pissed he missed it. Who knew you’d be the one kicking ass?”

  She kissed him. “I’ve had enough. No one is going to beat on my man. My sympathy is dried up.”

  He understood.

  Carrying Curtis a plate, she sat on the table in front of him. “Eat.”

  He did what she said, but he didn't look into her eyes. It was obvious that the wind was gone from his sails.

  This was defeat at its finest.

  Emma moved to sit beside him. “We need to talk, and I want you to remain calm. We don’t physically strike people in this family. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, and I’m sorry.”

  They could hear the sorrow in his voice. While he could take Greyson being angry, Emma was like his mother. Her anger stung.

  “Curtis, sweetheart, we love you, and we couldn’t tell you. I need you to think like an agent for a minute here. If you were running this, what would you do?”

  He looked up, and his eyes were filled with pain. “I would have done the same thing.”

  “It wasn’t like we wanted to hurt you. We didn't find out until this morning, and you were asleep. We headed out to do our jobs. Had you been up, we might have handled this differently.”

  He looked up. “Were you going to tell me?”

  She patted his knee. “Yes, I was going to tell you tonight when I got home. I love you, Curtis, but this wasn’t an easy conversation to have. It put us in a bad spot.”

  Greyson watched her work. His wife would be a good mother. She got angry, but then she soothed over the pain with love.

  “She had an affair,” he stated.

  “What she did was horribly wrong. Brynn cheated on you, and that’s horrible. I didn't want you to read it off a sheet of paper, and neither did Greyson. We wanted to be the ones to break it to you gently.”

  “She broke your trust, but then again, so did you. Who are you, Curtis?” Greyson asked. “At one time, you were a damn good agent. Why are you letting this destroy you?”

  He didn't know.

  He was all tied up in knots.

  “You suspected she was cheating, and now you have your proof.”

  “I really hate her,” he whispered. “I’m a horrible person, but she betrayed me. I kept trying, and not once did she come to me and say it was over. I took vows. We both did, and you don’t do that to someone.”

  Emma looked over at her husband. “You made the mini-Croft, so how about you field this one?”

  He sighed. He was well aware.

  “What she did was wrong, and you have every right to be mad. There is a big difference between being a caveman and acting badly. Going after the detective was just wrong. Yes, he shouldn’t have been dipping his dick in your wife, but losing your badge isn't going to change that. It only lets them win. I thought I taught you to be smarter than that.”

  “You would have beat him to a bloody pulp, and you know it.”

  Emma, to her credit, said nothing as she ate her dinner. She simply allowed her husband to handle this.

  “Yes, I would have, and I would have been wrong too. Don’t put me on the pedestal, Curtis. I’m just as screwed up as the next guy.”

  “But Emma wouldn’t ever cheat on you. She loves you. Why can’t I find that? Why can’t I be loved like that?”

  Greyson had to be honest. “She’s the way she is and not because of me. All I can tell you is that you will find someone who loves you like Emma loves me. She’s out there.”

  “But Brynn…”

  “Curtis, she told you that you were too caveman for her, and you tried to change. That never works out. When you took back her ring, that was a defining moment in your relationship. She warned you that she couldn’t live with someone who bossed her around. This was a mess in the making. If this is who you really are inside, she wasn’t the one for you. I think you know that.”

  Emma spoke up, “You can’t change people. I fell in love with everything about Greyson. There’s nothing I’d change. What did Brynn want to change about you?”

  “Everything. She hated my comic books, how I texted her all the time to see if she was safe, and how I would wait up for her at night. I was a fool to believe someone would want me for me. I tried too hard.”

  He started crying.

  This time, it wasn’t Emma who comforted him.

  It was Greyson. He dropped his plate on the table and moved to sit beside him. They knew this was coming, but it still sucked to see him break.

  You had to hit rock bottom before you could dig your way back out.

  “It’s okay, son. You’ll find her,” Greyson said, dropping his arm around the man’s shoulders.

  “I never want to fall in love again. It sucks. I’m swearing off the opposite sex. This was my one shot, and it’s done. I’ll never find anyone to love me for me. You caught the only babe who likes a caveman.”

  No one commented because for now, it was about making Curtis feel better. With time, hopefully, he’d see that things could change.

  That his heart would heal.

  There was a girl out there for him. He only had to be himself.

  “I hate women.”

  “It’ll be okay,” Emma said, taking his hand in hers. “She’s out there, Curtis. Have faith.”

  How could he? The woman he trusted with his heart had ripped it from his chest. Curtis was sure he’d never feel the same about women again.

  He wouldn’t risk his soul.

  * * * Croft & Croft * * *

  When Paris and Tessa arrived at home, they were glad to be back where they could relax. It was rare that they could escape the nut farm early, especially when there was a case. Now that they were at home, it would be easy to focus.

/>   Well, maybe not.

  Paris had every intention of doing his job. Only, the second the door was closed and locked, Tessa had other ideas.

  Working together was tough, because they couldn’t be too touchy feely, but here…

  Anything went.

  As she perched in his lap, Paris wheeled them into the living room. It was hard not to run them into a wall since her hands were in his hair, and her mouth was trailing across his throat and jaw.

  God!

  He missed this all day long.

  “I can’t wait to marry you,” he stated. “I can’t believe we’re doing it in four days.”

  She couldn’t either. The last few months had been hard fought, but they had won. Fate hadn’t kept them down. “I can’t wait to be Mrs. Tessa Archer. It sounds all sexy and perfect.”

  He couldn’t agree more. There was something so erotic about this tough, badass woman taking his simple name.

  “I have a present for you on our wedding day,” he teased. Paris knew she was going to love it.

  “Really? I have a present for you on our wedding night. One good gift deserves another.”

  He laughed. “I can’t wait.”

  Tessa sealed her mouth to his in one hell of a scorching lip lock.

  When he finally navigated them into the living room, he broke from the kiss. “How about we have some dinner and then work on the couch?”

  She grinned wickedly. “That’s perfect. Tonight is my night to cook, so get comfortable, and I’ll make you something to eat.”

  A few months ago, he would have protested, but now he loved it. Tessa was just taking care of him. There was no pity, only love. They had compromised and worked through their issues.

  “Okay, Tessa, my sweet.”

  He watched her walk away, and he couldn’t wait until they went to bed. He planned on making love to his fiancée, but until then, work came first.

  “Are you in the mood for something spicy?” she called. “I have the perfect thing for us.”

  “Anything is fine, Tessa.”

  He pulled himself onto the couch before dumping his files all over the table. From the kitchen, he could hear banging and moving around.

  “Baby, are you okay in there? Do you need help?” he called. It sounded like she was losing the wrestling match with the pots and pans.

  “No, I’ve got this.”

  Paris went to work. He was reading one of the files when he saw movement from his peripheral.

  When he looked up, he nearly choked on his own tongue.

  “Tessa?”

  There she stood, only she wasn’t in work attire. Tessa had lost all her clothes, dawned a pair of heels, and some Betty Page pin up apron that he’d never seen before. All she was missing was the pearls. From the way her breasts peeked from the sides, Paris knew she was naked beneath it.

  “You said you wanted spicy. Well, I’m feeling muy caliente tonight!”

  He swallowed as she headed his way.

  Paris couldn’t help but stare. Here was his fiancée, and she was sexy--the long legs, the killer heels, and the sexy cat eyes peeking out from behind the growing black hair.

  He wanted to thank someone for this miracle. How he got so lucky was beyond him. Even before he lost his legs, she was with him, and that was shocking.

  Tessa loved him in all his geeky glory. This was one hell of a miracle in his life.

  When she reached him, Tessa straddled his legs and sat in his lap.

  “Are you hungry, Paris?” she asked, pulling his mouth to hers. The kiss was something of dreams.

  Wet ones.

  “Oh, Tessie,” he murmured as she began undoing his tie.

  “I have a secret,” she whispered.

  He swallowed. “What?”

  “I used to think you were sexy before, but honestly, Paris, I wouldn’t want the old you back. You're even hotter now than before. Your determination gets me off, and then there are your arms. God, I love how strong they are.”

  She ran her fingers down them.

  Paris couldn’t look away. This was every geek’s hot, wet dream, and she was all his.

  “Thank you, Jesus,” he muttered.

  “I can’t wait to watch you pass your qualifications.”

  He leaned back, letting her fingers undo his shirt. If his girl wanted to have sex, he was all about it. “Tessa, show me.”

  That’s all she needed to hear. When his shirt was open, Tessa lowered herself to her knees.

  Since the shooting that stole his legs, they had to modify their lovemaking. Tessa needed to get him ready, and she knew just the way to do it. Pulling off the apron, she sat there wearing only the gold twin heart necklace he once gave her. Next to the heels, it was the perfect attire.

  “God,” he muttered when she unbuckled his pants. Slowly, achingly so, she pulled him free of his boxers.

  “Let me get you hard,” she whispered, before her mouth began devouring him.

  Paris watched, afraid to look away. He wanted this more than anything. His heart broke for Curtis Briggs, and he couldn’t imagine losing his wife-to-be.

  When she stopped, Tessa picked up his hand and slid it into her hair. “Show me what you like, Paris.”

  Oh, her mouth was pretty high up there on his list. It was right behind her lethal curves.

  When she went back to work, getting him rock hard, he wanted to write her a sonnet. Paris could see his saliva slick dick, sliding in and out of her mouth, and his body had woken to her call.

  She was a miracle worker. His Tessa healed him.

  “Baby,” he whispered, as her hand joined in. While he couldn’t feel everything, his brain was bridging the gap. He’d become a more visual lover, and that’s why Tessa was spicing it up. They needed props and so many things to get his imagination wild.

  When he popped free from her mouth, he was watching her. His chest was rising and falling.

  “What do you want?” she asked.

  “I want you riding me. Leave the heels on. Christ! Please wear the heels.”

  She grinned wickedly as she climbed up his body. As Tessa positioned herself over him, she stared down into his baby blue eyes. “Guide me in.”

  He swallowed. Taking his erection in his hand, he slid it through her wetness. She was ready for him, and God knew he was dying for her.

  When she was above him, Paris used his other hand to tug her down. She covered him, her body swallowing him whole.

  Tessa moaned.

  “Use me to get off,” he whispered. “I want to watch you fall.”

  She began moving.

  When her breasts bounced invitingly before him, he longed to torment and tease them. The second his fingers found her nipples, she moaned.

  He wanted the last sounds he ever heard on earth to be her breathy little gasps of pleasure.

  It was so damn hot.

  “Oh, Paris,” she murmured, knowing she was close. There was nothing better in the world than this shared experience between them.

  “Fall, Tessie. I want to hear you cum,” he admitted as he stroked her with very eager fingertips.

  She didn't hesitate.

  Her body welcomed his, and the pleasure was almost too much to stand. As Paris pulled her down, harder and harder, she ground her body against his.

  And she exploded.

  He was close, but he needed something more.

  He wanted to be on top.

  While he loved Tessa riding him, he missed staring down into her eyes as they made love. It reminded him of the times before he was shot.

  When she finally surfaced and tried to start moving, he stopped her.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “I need something, and I want to try it. I don’t know if it’ll work, but I need this.”

  She didn't understand. “What, Paris? What is it that you need?”

  Shit!

  She’d give him anything to make him happy. Tessa loved him that much.

  “I want to be
on top. I can do it.”

  She wasn’t worried. Tessa had learned a lot about the man in the last few months. If Paris was determined, nothing could stop him. He’d beat every obstacle and continued to amaze her. She believed in him.

  Tessa climbed off his body.

  “Where do you want me?”

  “Move the table.”

  She immediately slid the coffee table away so they’d have room. Their files cascaded across the floor, but they didn't care.

  “You first,” he said.

  Tessa got on her back and watched him. If he fell, she wanted to catch him.

  Slowly, he lowered himself to his knees. Pulling himself toward her, he found his place between her legs. While he braced himself, Tessa slid closer.

  “Help me,’ he asked.

  She directed him home.

  Then it was all him.

  Paris began moving, using the muscles of his arms and torso to slide in and out of her body. Immediately, without provocation, Tessa wrapped her legs around his hips.

  He felt so amazing.

  As she stared up at him, her heart wanted to explode at this simple act.

  Here was her Paris.

  Her kind.

  Sweet.

  Gentle man.

  “Oh, God, Tessa! This is amazing,” he said, refusing to close his eyes. He could see the pleasure on her face, and it told the tale.

  It was working. They’d gotten this back too.

  As her hands slid up his arms, she could feel the strength there, and it gave her a rush. “Paris,” she whispered.

  He couldn’t stop.

  He was so close.

  “Tessa, honey,” he muttered, perspiration beading on his brow.

  She moaned, her whole body exploding at his penetrating thrusts. It must have set him off because he was shouting her name as they fell.

  Together.

  His mouth found hers as she wrapped her arms around his body. They floated as one.

  When the ecstasy had passed, Paris opened his eyes. If he was crushing Tessa, she didn't let on.

  “Wow.”

  She didn't have words.

  Instead, she let her emotions free. Her eyes filled, and the tears overflowed.