Vegas was aging him.
She could see it now, and it bothered her.
While she knew they should both step away from their jobs, Emma was smart enough to know he’d never do that. This was Greyson Croft. Underneath the battle weary façade, there was a fighter, and here he was.
She couldn’t change him. This man was meant to fight for justice.
He was a crusader, and she was proud.
When she glanced down at his bandaged arm, her heart skipped. Trudy Booker had come close. She’d hit the left side, and there was no doubt she would have killed him had she been more accurate.
That scared her.
Emma couldn’t imagine life without him. There, in that grand space, she wanted to have him with her forever. She needed to love him, care for him, and ease away all his pain.
It was time to start.
Moving closer, Emma brought her mouth to his wounded arm and left feather light kisses there. As soon as her lips touched his flesh, Greyson’s body came alive. Even though he was still asleep, he reacted to her, and that pleased Emma. Here was her soul mate.
Gently tugging the bedding down, she found him naked. Her heart began pounding at the long, delicious lines of his body. Instead of touching him with eager fingertips, it was her mouth that longed to have a taste.
Hungrily, she moved down his torso, kissing and teasing his flesh. When he stirred, her hand found his already rock hard erection. With a few strokes, he was pulled from his slumber.
“Emma,” he whispered, his silvery eyes popping open.
“Let me love you, Greyson,” she replied, going back to her morning wake up call. With tongue and teeth, she stroked, teased, and pleasured the only man she’d ever love.
His body bowed in ecstasy as his wife brought him closer and closer to the edge. He watched her head bobbing up and down his erection, and Greyson never wanted it to stop. If he was dead, and this was heaven, he would be a very happy man.
With one hand, he found the back of her head. He slowed her down, silently showing her the pace he craved. Greyson wanted gentle love making.
When he was shaking beneath her mouth, Emma set him free to climb back up his body. When she straddled his hips, she stared down into his face.
“Good morning.”
He grinned. “Yes, I do believe it is. My only problem is that you’re overdressed.”
Emma pulled the cotton nightgown from her body.
Greyson refused to focus on the bruises crisscrossing her body. Instead, his eyes never left hers. Reaching up, he tucked a wild piece of hair behind her ear. It was done with such tenderness, that Emma couldn’t breathe. What began as her making love to him was changing. As her eyes filled with tears, she didn't have to say the words.
Greyson saw it coming.
Here was the emotional crash. His wife held on all night, and now she was seeking refuge in him. She was rattled, and he needed to show her it was okay.
That they were more than fine.
Rolling, he placed her beneath him. As he stared down into her eyes, so much was passed between them.
“Thank you for fighting for your life,” he said. “Thank you for not leaving me, Emma.”
The tears spilled over. “Make me forget, Greyson. I need to forget. That was the worst thing I’ve ever had to live through. I thought I was going to slip away. I thought I was gone.”
“You didn’t, honey. I won’t let you leave my side. I can’t survive without you. I’d battle through hell to get to you.”
She knew he would.
Again, he was her champion.
“Heal me.”
Greyson knew it was time. He would give her just that, and pray it would be enough.
That he would be enough.
With his mouth, he offered a distraction, all the while his hands stroked, touched, and offered the healing power of love.
Emma moaned.
He kissed her more, sealing her life to his. They were meant to be one, and he believed that with all his heart. Here was the woman that fate wanted with him, and it was a damn good match.
Her smaller body shook beneath his, and with unsteady hands, she held onto him.
When his mouth broke free of the kiss, he stared down into her eyes. “I love you.”
Her reply was to bury her face in his good shoulder, allowing the tears to come as they made love.
Greyson knew she needed more, so he gave it to her. Gently, he filled her. Sliding home, he wanted to push the fear and terror from her, only giving her peace.
Love.
Adoration.
Then he began moving.
Emma’s long, pale legs were wrapped around his hips, inviting him deeper. With each slide in, he whispered his love into her ear.
She returned the sentiment by never letting go.
Here was strength.
Power.
Determination.
They weren’t giving each other up, and that was going to be what gave them the victory in the end.
They were unbreakable.
As he pushed her closer and closer to release, trying to get her to fall, she wouldn’t.
Not without him.
So, he didn't hold back.
Their mating was warm, heated, and full of love, and when he was poised on the edge, Greyson took them over and into the pleasure.
Wrapped around each other, they tumbled.
They were holding fast even as they broke apart. This was peace, and this was heaven. In her arms, and she in his, they could be safe.
When the colors stopped swirling, and they could catch their breaths, both Greyson and Emma stared into each other’s eyes.
Words weren’t needed.
Love patched them back up, gluing all the jagged edges back together again.
And it always would.
“I needed that,” she whispered, sniffling from her little cry fest.
“I’ll be more than happy to do that every day for the rest of our lives,” he offered. “I’ll take one for the team. I’m giving like that.”
Emma laughed. “You’re a saint.”
Greyson rolled off her body, pulling his wife with him so she could rest her head on his chest.
Emma was ready to speak. “The necklace saved me, Grey.”
He was aware.
“It was destroyed, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Can we get it repaired?”
He smiled. “We can.”
“It’s now my favorite piece of jewelry.”
Now he laughed. “Mine too.”
“She was going to have you marry her daughter so she could have all our money.”
His gut tightened. “It never would have happened. Even in all my grief, I never, ever would marry again. I told you, Emma, that if you go, I’m right behind. I won’t stay here without you. I can’t.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I’d want you to go on.”
He glanced over at her. “No. You’re it, Emma. This is the perfect life, and I’d never share it with anyone but you. It took me forty plus years to find you. It’s us or nothing.”
“I love you.”
He kissed her on the crown of her head.
“Where did you go last night?” she asked, running her finger through his chest hair. It was something she loved doing, and he enjoyed feeling.
“I had to have a little talk with Chris Ford.”
Emma didn't say anything at first. “Did you kill him? It’s too late to pin it on Trudy if you did.”
Croft laughed. “No. I punched him in the face, and then had a beer with him.”
“Feel better?”
“Yeah, I do. I invited him over for breakfast. Are you going to be okay with him here this morning?”
“I’m not mad at him. I just wish he’d stop being so stubborn and take the condo.”
Greyson smiled. “Well, you can discuss it with him this morning. I do happen to know why he won’t take it.”
She
looked up. “Why?”
Greyson told her everything--from his ex-wife, and to his fears. Normally, what happened in Bro-ville stayed there, but not when it came to Emma’s heart. Hers was the most important allegiance.
“I didn't think of that,” she stated. “Now I’m sorry I pushed.”
“Well, you’ll work it out. I’m sure. What do you say we get dressed, have something to eat, witness a marriage, and then give them their gift?”
“Tessa was worried we weren’t going to make it.”
Greyson laughed. “It’s going to be hard for us not to make it. I fixed it so we will be the first ones there.”
She stared at him. “What did you do?”
He pulled her from bed and toward the balcony that overlooked their garden. There, nestled among the roses, was an arch decorated in white with chairs surrounding it. “I know they said elope, but we’re going to switch it up. We’re all here, so why not have a wedding?”
Emma grinned. “That’s a good idea. You’re sneaky, Mr. Croft.”
“Yeah, I know,” he stated, kissing his wife. “Shall we break the news?”
Emma was good with that.
After telling Tessa about their plans, she wept. The only other time they’d seen her cry was when Paris was hurt. At first, they didn't know if they were happy tears or sad ones. When she stopped, she hugged them both.
She loved her gift.
Oh, if she only knew this was the beginning.
Greyson called Mace and Chris Ford, telling them what was going on. They were to dress appropriately, and be ready for a fast ceremony. When they all got there, they were going to witness Paris and Tessa getting hitched.
Heading down to eat, Emma was actually glad there was a chef. Because of the wedding, he was working on the weekend, and that meant she didn't have to worry about it.
That was a beautiful thing.
She was too sore to cook for anyone, including herself. As they sat down to have coffee and wait for breakfast to be ready, Greyson and Emma’s family began coming downstairs.
First was Steele. When he saw Emma, he went to give her a kiss on the cheek. Instead, she brought his lips to hers. “My hero.”
He laughed, snagging coffee before sitting near her.
Dante didn't miss it, and of course he had a comment to make. “No poaching my man.”
Greyson laughed. “I’ll kill them both.”
Emma winked at her cave-Croft.
“Although, I did get to kiss your husband, and I’m torn which I like better,” Steele teased.
Emma opened her mouth and then closed it. “I don’t want to know. I’m sure there is a logical explanation why my husband was kissing a man, I just don’t want to hear it.”
Greyson laughed.
When Curtis arrived, he didn't look as miserable as he’d been. Time was easing his pain. “What’s for breakfast, Mom?” he asked.
She pointed toward the kitchen. “The chef is handling it. You can go harass him.”
Curtis dropped a kiss to the top of her head. It was something he’d done a million times.
“You look better today,” Greyson stated.
“I feel better. We found the person who killed Brynn. I can put it to bed, and move on. I’m ready for the next part of my life. I’ve begun calling it the ‘Mom and Dad are rich and we have a chef’ phase.”
Here was the old Curtis, and he was fighting to get back.
“Yes, you are, and he’ll make you anything you ask for,” Greyson offered.
“Hot damn!”
“I heard from Mace this morning,” Greyson stated. “He called me instead of you, Emma, since he wasn’t sure you’d be up for work.”
“I am,” she sated.
“Apparently, Paris couldn’t sleep last night. He was rolling back and forth all night.”
“Wedding eve jitters,” Greyson stated. “I didn't sleep the night before we were married.”
“Me either,” stated Emma.
“While he was awake, he worked on the searches, and has more suspects for us.”
That piqued Emma’s interest. “While Tessa is showering, why don’t you tell me what he found?”
Greyson picked up his phone and tossed it to Curtis. Since Brynn’s death had been closed, he was back on the team. “Share it, son.”
Curtis scanned the information as they drank their coffee, and finally he gave them a report. “It seems that all of the women had the same hit on their credit cards. The bakery next door seemed to keep popping up.”
“Yeah, James Bleu said they got coffee and baked goods there,” Greyson admitted.
“Well, Paris ran the owner and staff, and he got a hit.”
Emma sipped her coffee. “What did he find?”
“Wade Grosse is the owner. There was an article in the local paper not that long ago. He wanted to expand his bakery into the next space, but the gym bought it up first. He was really pissed. He said that the county commissioners screwed him over by not considering his bid first, since he had the existing business.”
“So, you’re thinking he’s trying to get even by killing women who work out there?” Steele said.
“What’s a better way to take down a business than make them look like a serial killer is hunting in their midst? If the gym closes down, they can buy up the space,” Greyson stated.
“It looks like we need to interview Wade Grosse,” stated Emma.
“There’s more,” Curtis stated. “Paris also found something interesting.”
“What?”
“One of the employees of the bakery also showed up on the gym’s membership list. Lester Pappel takes yoga classes there.”
Greyson thought about it. “Well, the gym is right near where he works. It might simply be that.”
“He has an arrest record and two PFA’s against women.”
Well, that bumped him to the top of the list.
“We’ll need to speak to him too,” Emma stated.
“How about the DNA run?” Greyson asked. “Has Max found a match to the semen found on our victim?”
Curtis shook his head. “No report yet.”
“I’ll light a fire under him.”
Granted, they all knew why the man was backed up. They’d dumped a lot of trace in his lap, and he still had other priority cases.
“I’ll head in to help him,” Steele stated. “After this morning’s wedding, I’ll go in and start processing some trace too.”
Emma appreciated it. She knew the ME didn't have to do that, but he was willing to take one for the team.
“I’ll go with you,” Dante stated. “I don’t have anything to do today. All’s quiet at the Croft Bank and Trust.”
Greyson lifted an eyebrow.
“I’m funny, I know.”
Before he could reply, the gate bell rang, and they could hear Chris Ford’s voice over the intercom.
Emma stopped her husband when he stood. “I’ll go. We need to talk.”
He watched her leave the room as the chef began bringing in breakfast.
“Will she be okay?” Curtis asked.
“Yeah, she’ll be fine. Emma is really tough.”
And she’d proved it.
As Chris approached the house, he felt like heading back home. What did you say to a woman who obviously loved you, and you reciprocated by nearly getting her killed?
It was awkward.
Ford was pretty sure he was going to screw this up.
In his hand, he held a bunch of flowers. He was hoping that would speak volumes, since he wasn’t a bouquet kind of man.
As he went to knock, the door was opened. There stood Emma, and she looked like hell. There was a knot on her forehead, her lips were split, and she had what appeared to be the beginning of a black eye.
Crap!
He’d caused this.
“Emma.”
“Morning, Chris. Come on in.”
He didn't move.
“What’s wrong?”
“These are for you.”
She took the flowers and sniffed them. “You’re the only one who gave me flowers. You just scored some points,” she teased, holding out her hand to him.
He didn't know what to do. This was all foreign to him. A part of him wanted to accept it, and a part wanted to run for his life. It was easier being alone.
This was hard.
When he still didn't move, she placed the flowers on the table by the door before moving outside were he stood frozen in place. She took his hand and led him to a spot on the stairs.
“We need to talk.”
He let her lead.
“Chris, I’m sorry that I upset you. It never occurred to me that giving you a gift would freak you out. I assumed we were friends, and that you’d see it that way.”
“We are friends, Emma. I care a lot about you. I just feel bad about nearly getting you killed.”
“That’s on Trudy Booker, not you. She was playing a sick game, and we all got caught up in it. She was sleeping with the new commissioner.”
Yeah, he knew. The man had come clean after Dimitri Gideon put a bullet in her head.
“Are you going to let her destroy what we have?” Emma asked.
He didn't speak.
“I’ll be brutally honest, Chris. I love you.”
He stared openmouthed.
Emma laughed. “Not like I love Greyson. You can breathe. You’re getting red.”
He tugged at his collar.
“You fill an important role in my life, Chris. Greyson’s the love of my life, Curtis and Dante are like children, and you’re like my brother. When I lost mine, there was a hole in my heart. For some reason, you filled it.”
He was touched.
Greyson was very astute.
He’d been right.
“So, my first instinct is to do what I can’t do with my real brother. Gage has been gone for so long, and I finally have that feeling back with you. Giving you that gift was to take care of someone I care a great deal about. I wasn’t able to protect Gage. I just wanted to keep you safe.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you. My ex-wife had money, and she always made me feel like I was less than her because of it. When you gave me a condo, I was freaked out. I didn't want to lose what we have. I love you too, Emma.”
She sniffled. “I really want you to have it, but if you can’t, I’ll accept that. Since we own that building, Greyson will break all the leases and clear it out. Then we’ll rehab it and you won’t pay any rent. Then you can save up for your own condo if that’s what you want.”
Hell Is Burning Page 47