He gave her what she asked for, even as he was so close to the edge. When her body tightened down on his, Ethan knew he was lost.
With one last thrust, he shoved them both off the edge and into the ecstasy. They both tumbled, and Callen was there to keep him from crushing her beneath him.
Time stopped.
Breathing was heavy.
Finally, Elizabeth spoke, “Yeah, you two are my arm candy. I don’t care what the hell you say.”
Both men helped get her out of her tangled clothes. When she was safely tucked between them, Ethan finally spoke, “Let this be a lesson to you, Elizabeth,” Blackhawk muttered, curling along one side of her.
Callen laughed. “We’re bad ass.”
“Yee haw,” she muttered, before exhaustion won the battle.
Now, this was the proper way to end a night.
* * *
He placed the body in the perfect spot. If the Feds were going to search outside the fence for the dead, he’d place them where they’d never think to look.
From now on, they’d be hidden among the permanent residents.
After carefully carrying him to the crypt, he placed the sinner inside. While he would prefer to bury him, there wouldn’t be time. Besides, no one would look here.
It was too obvious.
As he placed the little dog right beside him, he stepped back to admire his handy work.
Yeah, this was perfect. Where better to put the reaped victims, but where God wanted them?
The crypt was big enough that it would hold another couple of bodies if need be. Plus, there was enough frankincense to keep them preserved.
Maybe this was how he should have done it the first time.
Well, lesson learned.
It didn't matter about the first four.
God would forgive him.
Pulling out his rosary, he began praying for this one’s soul. Each bead moved through his fingers reverently as the words were silently sent to God.
Despite it all, this was another job well done.
* * *
When they arrived back from the morgue, Jaxon wasn’t really talkative. Instead, she took her shower and retreated to the second bedroom.
To say he was disappointed would be an understatement. As he lay there in bed, a part of him hoped she’d head back out to the couch, so he could keep her company.
Instead, the house was silent.
Damn it!
For a while, Tony wondered if he’d done something wrong. He mulled it over and over again in his brain until it threatened to make him crazy.
Finally, Tony gave up.
Closing his eyes, he had just begun drifting to that comfortable place between awareness and sleep, when he heard the light knock.
“Tony?” came the soft voice.
He couldn’t believe it! This had to be a dream. He’d wished for her to show up and here she was!
“Yeah, Jax, come on in,” he calmly replied, his blood pounding in his ears. “Are you okay?” he asked, as she stood there in the doorway in an oversized shirt. She looked so frail and delicate.
“I can’t sleep. Can I stay with you?” she asked, hoping the man before her wouldn’t deny her request. If he did, she was in for a really bad night.
He almost didn't know what to say. “Are you sick?”
Yeah, she most definitely was, and it was all in her head. As she lay in her bed, Jaxon was scared stupid. It was all the bodies with flesh, open eyes, and gaping wounds. She wasn’t accustomed to it, and it was making her life hell. Where she believed that she couldn’t see worse atrocities than she already had, she was wrong. What wouldn’t she give to have every victim from here on out only be bones?
She knew that it was the only way she could face them down.
Today was horrifying on so many levels.
“Yes, honey, come here,” he offered, lifting the blanket back for her to climb into bed with him.
Without hesitation, she scampered toward him and onto the mattress. As her body came to rest against his, the scent of his soap offered her peace.
“I keep seeing them,” she whispered, as her head rested over his chest.
Tony couldn’t breathe. Instead, he simply wrapped his arms around her. As she cuddled closer, he knew he was in for a long restless night.
Already his body was aching with this simple touch. Never before in all his life had he been forced to not take what he wanted. Now, he wasn’t allowed the forbidden fruit.
Damn it, karma!
“It’s okay, honey. I’m here. They can’t get you now,” he whispered, offering her reassurance.
“Thank you, Tony.”
He swallowed. “Sure thing, Jax. It’s not a problem.”
Only, that was a big fat lie.
Tony hadn’t even been intimate with her yet, and he was getting attached. This was one hell of a disaster, and he was helpless to stop it.
~ Chapter Eight ~
Wednesday Morning
Despite the tight sleeping space, it was an amazing night’s rest. Elizabeth found herself trapped and loving every minute of it. Her head was resting on Ethan’s chest, while Callen’s body was pressed against her back.
It was cozy to wake with the two men she loved. In her heart, she couldn’t imagine not starting her day like this for the rest of her life.
It was perfect.
Amazing.
And freaking fantastic.
Ethan was beginning to stir. When he rolled to his side, it gave her a little more space and the luxury of watching his amazing eyes.
“Good morning, baby,” he whispered, running his fingers across her cheek.
Her heart skipped in her chest. “I love you so much, Ethan,” she replied softly.
It was rare for Blackhawk to be at a loss for words, but each time she offered the simple declaration, it reminded him of what he was so lucky to have. His family was amazing, and he’d die to keep it.
“I love you too. Is Callen asleep?” he whispered.
When the man didn't reply or react to her butt wiggle, they had their answer.
“Good. We have to talk,” he stated. When her eyes showed fear, he offered her reassurance. “Baby, it’s about work. We’ve never been stronger,” he promised. It hurt his heart that while in Salem, he’d damaged her with his insecurities.
Immediately, she relaxed. Elizabeth had one chink in her armor, and it was the fear that Ethan would leave her. It stemmed from the last five months of having to battle his inner demons.
It was always there, haunting her.
Ethan opted to let her in on the work issues. Explaining the entire situation, he explained the top secret division that the FBI was beginning to structure. Once it was all out, he waited for her to say something.
“I’m sure we can find someone to run it,” she offered. “Is it going to be big?”
Ethan phrased his whispered words cautiously. “It’s going to be covert, I guess you can say, and they want one of us. Well, Gabe has his heart set on it.”
She finally understood why he was approaching this with kid gloves. “It’s not out of FBI West, is it?”
He shook his head. “It’s going to be across the country in the Deep South, and Gabe wants me to offer it to Callen.”
There was a big pink elephant in the room.
Finally, she got the courage to string the words together. It was going to hurt to say it, but what choice did she have? “Offer it to him. Who are we to impede his chance at furthering his career?” she stated. It crushed her soul that they might lose him, but this had to be Callen’s choice.
If he wanted it, they wouldn’t hold him back.
They couldn’t.
“Are you sure, Lyzee? I can sweep this under the carpet and tell Gabe no.”
She couldn’t do that to the man she loved. In fact, she couldn’t do it to either of them. Ethan would carry the guilt of what he did, and Callen would never have the chance to spread his wings and take his shot in life.
They both knew that this was a possibility one day.
Now, it was here.
“When you love someone, Ethan, you set them free. If they come back, it’s meant to be.”
Yeah, they were both struggling with that.
Before they could discuss it more, Callen stirred. Stretching, he peeked his head over her shoulder to begin leaving kisses across her skin.
When she tensed, he realized something was going on. He could tell by the look on his brother’s face. It was filled with worry. Yeah, something was happening, and he’d missed it.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his body going on alert, as he slipped his arm protectively around Elizabeth. When he pulled her against his body, holding her like a security blanket, he braced for it.
Ethan took a deep breath. It was time to roll the dice, risk his family, and Elizabeth’s heart. Callen couldn’t see her face, but Ethan could. Unshed tears filled her eyes as she waited for it to unfold.
“We were just talking about work and Oracle.”
“Oh, is it bad?” he asked, nuzzling her ear nervously. “You look like you’re ready to freak out.”
Yeah, he didn't know the half of it, but soon he would.
Launching into an explanation, he broke it all down for Callen. The only details he left out were the ones regarding the identity of Oracle.
“Okay,” he stated. “It sounds like one hell of an adventure. Why are you upset about it?”
“Would you like to do it? It means a pay raise, and you’d be promoted to full director status. You’d run your own division and have an office. It wouldn’t be as big as FBI West, but just as important.”
Callen was a little surprised. He’d never really expected to move up the ladder. He was liaison and that was huge for him, but this would be something he never believed obtainable.
“A promotion?”
Elizabeth closed her eyes to block out the pain and tears. She could hear the tone in Callen’s voice, and it didn't bode well for her heart. Taking this job meant him moving away. She tried to keep her body lax, knowing he would feel her tense up.
“You’re offering me a job promotion, but I get the distinct feeling that there’s something that you’re not telling me. What’s going on, Ethan?”
He took a deep breath before sharing it. “It’s not out of FBI West. It’s going to be at a secret location.”
“How far away?”
“Hours away, Cal. You wouldn’t be able to commute every day. It would mean starting your life somewhere else.”
His heart began pounding in his chest. “So, I’d have to leave you both?” The bile rose up in his stomach. “Do you want me to go?” he asked softly. “Is that what you’re not telling me?”
She fought so hard not to make a peep. A tear slipped down her cheek and dripped onto his arm.
“Elizabeth, look at me,” he stated, rolling her to her back. When he saw the tears, he placed his palm on her cheek. “Why are you crying?”
She said nothing. Not because she didn't want to, but because her heart hurt so damn much.
“Ethan, what’s going on?”
“We were offered the job and turned it down. Neither of us wants to break up the family.”
“Then why did you offer it to me?”
Blackhawk knew she couldn’t explain, since the emotions were choking her. So, he opted to handle it for his wife. “Because what happens next in our story has to be your choice. We can’t make you stay or go, Callen. You have to ultimately do what your heart tells you is right. It’s like when Timothy gave you the rings. He told you to give them to whomever you wished. We’re telling you to make your decision independently of us.”
“How can I do that? We’re a family. A couple.”
Elizabeth stared into his eyes. “Because we love you, we’re willing to give you this chance, despite what we feel.”
Even if it killed her, and it certainly would.
Callen didn't have to think twice. “I decline your offer. I can’t pick up and leave you both. I love you. When we started on this path, we didn't know what would happen. Luckily, we found love. I’m not risking it for a pay raise or job title. I’m perfectly happy in the job I have now. We have kids together. I can’t leave them behind with their mother while I’m selfishly trying to find an adventure. As far as I’m concerned, we’re a married couple, or would that be trio?”
The tears came in relief. Elizabeth wrapped herself around him, and even Ethan joined her, pulling the blankets up over them. In the cocoon, they stayed locked together.
“I won’t ever leave. I promise,” he reassured her. “There’s nothing out there that can make me leave my family, Lyzee.”
Elizabeth rained kisses across his face. “I love you, Callen James.”
He kissed Elizabeth across her freckled nose. “I love you both. I promise.”
Together, they remained in bed for a little while, just rejoicing on having their family fully intact.
On this one, they dodged yet another bullet.
* * *
Tony had been awake most of the night. He’d catnap a little, only to have her arm or hand slide across his body. The second she’d touch him, whether it be his abs, chest, or regions far more sensitive, he’d jolt awake.
He’d never known madness like this in his life. With all the senseless death, murder, and crazies he’d encountered working for the FBI, this night was the most insane.
His instinct was to pounce, yet he kept hearing Elizabeth and Callen in his head. They warned him to be sweet, gentle, and show her attention.
Yeah, he’d love to do that last one, mostly naked.
At that moment, her leg was over his groin, and he had given up all hope that he could pretend he wasn’t as hard as steel. It was obvious that he wanted her. Now, he was going to have to see how this all unfolded.
“Jax, honey,” he whispered, touching her cheek. “We have to wake up and get ready for work. It’s going to be a long day in the lab,” he said, watching her slowly pull away from sleep. When she stretched beside him like a giant cat, he wanted to pet her.
Everywhere…
Opening her eyes, she stared up at him. Obviously, Tony had been awake a while. As her hand moved across his chest, she could feel the tremor run through his body. Oh, he was wide awake, alright.
It thrilled her.
“So, is this awkward?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood.
“If I say yes, do I get a kiss?” she teased back.
Tony relaxed. “Yes.”
“What do I get if I say no?”
He thought about it. “A kiss.”
She slid up his body and brought her lips to his. The kiss was sweet and gentle.
Tony fought the emotions clawing their way to the surface. It wasn’t easy by any means. Here was a sexy woman, practically lying on his body, and now she was kissing him. He tried to breathe through it, but it tore at his control. When her hand slid up his neck and into his hair, something in him snapped.
Rolling, he placed her beneath him. Gone was the gentle easy tempo of the kiss. Now, it was something deeper, lustier, and stoked by his inner fires. His mouth plundered, claiming all he could in those brief moments.
Jaxon had never been kissed that way before in all her life. The heat swamped her, burning her alive. When his hand slid down her hip to her bare leg, she nearly lost her mind.
In his life, Tony prided himself on being calm, logical, and easy going. With this woman, he was none of those things. She was like a fast ride, careening down a dangerous road.
His body screamed for more.
Tony wanted to peel her out of her clothes and have his way with her before work.
Then, the little voices returned. There was Callen, reminding him to be romantic.
Damn the angel on his shoulder.
Slowly, he released the kiss as he stared down at her. “I’m not going to say sorry, Jaxon, because I enjoyed that a great deal.”
She swallowed. Ha
d he apologized or told her it was instinct, she would have wept.
“I’m glad, since I feel the same.” She wanted to scream and bounce like a silly girl. Here a sexy, smart, older man wanted her.
Holy shit!
It was like Christmas morning to her.
“I’ll also say that the next time you’re in bed with me, I’m not going to be able to stop. You might want to think about that.”
She stared up into his eyes.
“Do you understand what I’m saying, Jaxon?”
“I understand, Tony.”
With that, he rolled off her body and headed for the shower. If he was forced to look at her, all rumpled and warm from sleep, he’d be taking her. This had to be her choice. Already, he knew he was in over his head.
Now, he needed to see if he’d be trying to tread water alone, or with a partner.
Under the spray of cold water, he bit off a curse.
Chivalry and that bitch Fate should be dead.
* * *
After pulling themselves out of bed, Elizabeth, Ethan, and Callen got ready to face the day. While his partners were showering, Callen headed into the kitchen to make them breakfast.
Ethan had been trying to teach him and with daily practice, he was getting better.
As Elizabeth showered, Ethan found her all soapy and wet. Because he was craving it, he wanted to spend some alone time with her. Since they’d been a couple last night in bed, Ethan longed to be her focus that morning.
After a slippery bout of shower sex, they were both grinning as they headed out to eat.
“French toast,” Callen said, placing it in front of Elizabeth. Fortunately, Ethan had stopped for provisions. They had been so busy, that they couldn’t spare a moment to do it themselves.
“It looks delicious, Cal,” she said, taking her plate to the couch, with the two men following.
“She’s right, Callen. Way to go,” his brother offered, giving him a fist bump.
Redemption is Here (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 9) Page 21
