“Shit, she hits hard,” Julian said, getting up. “I didn’t think she meant hard core football.”
“Elizabeth does everything hard core. Blackhawks don’t play like girls, and you better learn that fast. The first hit is generally the easiest one,” Callen grinned.
Tori fist bumped her boss and tossed the ball to Wyler. “This may be my new favorite past time.” She winked at a mud covered Julian. “Sex as a bet still seem like a good idea?”
The men started laughing.
Blackhawk stared into his wife’s eyes. “Who’s next,” he taunted. “The newbie is easy to take down, but we know all your tricks, baby.”
Elizabeth grinned. “Give me the ball, Wyler,” she said over her shoulder. When he nodded, starting the play, Elizabeth started running, and saw Ethan at her side. She had seconds and she dropped, sliding feet first towards the goal, effectively having her husband jumping out of her way. When she clipped him, he landed in the muddy grass with a thud.
Whitefox started laughing at his brother. Watching the smaller woman take out his brother was entertaining.
Elizabeth jumped up, glad she’d scored. “Sorry, love bug,” she said, using the term of endearment she once used on him back in Salem. “I guess you don’t know all my tricks.”
Blackhawk jumped up. “Are you insane? You’re pregnant. What if I landed on you?” he demanded.
She kissed his cheek. “Baby is indestructible yet. He’s so small no one can hurt him.” Walking past him, she patted him on the muddy ass.
Ethan had enough ass kicking. “Huddle,” he yelled. When they all got close he dropped his voice. “Okay, there’s three of us. I say we change up the rules a little bit. Elizabeth can’t take us all out. I’ll keep the ball. Callen, I need you to stop Elizabeth. Julian, Tori is all yours. If the women are going to play like men and say the baby is indestructible, I say we play fair.”
The men grinned.
“I can out run dad.” Blackhawk added.
They broke the huddle and got ready. Ethan kept the ball and started forward. Callen and Julian got ready. When Elizabeth went for Ethan, Callen took her down, making sure she landed on top of his body. When they stopped sliding he rolled and kissed her.
Tori had about the same luck. Julian had no problem taking her to the mud, and laughing the entire time.
Needless to say, Ethan got the touchdown. “I scored!” he shouted.
Elizabeth stood. “That’s the last time you're scoring today,” she said, “and I don’t mean in the game, Cowboy.”
That wiped the smug look off his face pretty damn quick.
Now his brother was laughing outrageously too.
“You too, Callen.”
Tori and Julian were roaring with laughter, as was Wyler over the entire thing. It was funny to see two mud covered agents with their mouths open, unsure if she was kidding or dead serious.
Elizabeth grinned at her teammates.
Callen glanced over at his brother. “She isn’t serious, is she? I mean it’s just a game and Elizabeth wouldn’t do that, right?”
Blackhawk didn’t believe she would, but with her it was always the wild card. He watched her carefully, and when she winked reassuringly, he relaxed. “No, she wouldn’t.”
Callen breathed out. “Thank God!”
Back into formation they went, and this time Tori had the ball, and made a break for it. Ethan grabbed his wife and they slid through the mud laughing when Elizabeth tripped Callen on her way down, and they all ended up in a pile.
Tori stayed just out of Julian’s reach, until she slid on a clump of grass. They both went down lying in the muddy mess, staring up at the sky and laughing like maniacs. “This is pretty damn fun,” she said finally.
“Yeah it is,” he replied, reaching for her hand. “Maybe we can see if I can get my brothers and sisters to come to my house and try this with us this summer.”
Tori nodded, her eyes filling with tears but she said nothing. Deep down there was the sad truth looming, she wouldn’t ever see it, and they both knew it. Obviously her face told the story too.
Elizabeth noticed the change in demeanor in her agent’s face and motivation. She nodded towards her husband, jerking her head.
Blackhawk picked up the unspoken words and watched the woman carefully. His eyes flickered to Julian, and there was a look of worry on his face. The tracker was relatively laid back, and this had to be the first time Ethan ever saw him look off balance. “I’m calling a truce and throwing in the white flag.”
Elizabeth was glad he understood the situation. “Are you surrendering, Geronimo?”
The three Natives snickered at her reference.
“I certainly am.”
Elizabeth knew he took one for the team and to let Tori out of the game without making it a spectacle. “All bets are off since we’re all too tired to go on. It looks like we’ll reconvene until another day.”
Callen finally noticed what was happening. “Thank God!”
“How about we all go in and clean up and then we can have some hot chocolate while we wait for dinner,” Elizabeth offered, beginning to question Tori’s stability.
“Okay,” stated Julian, knowing that Elizabeth sensed the mood change. They’d invited them to their home, and they were spoiling the fun. Julian wished he never said anything to Tori to force her back into the misery.
Once inside they started stripping off as much as they could and remain decent. In the laundry room, they dropped their clothing into the washer, and pulled off their socks and shoes.
“Tori, Julian, there’s a room three doors down. You can use the shower in there,” Elizabeth offered.
“Thanks,” she said walking away, avoiding everyone’s speculative stares.
“I’m sorry, Elizabeth.” Julian offered his apology. “She had a pretty bad dream last night, and she’s slipping in and out of this melancholy.”
Elizabeth patted his arm. “Julian, friends don’t have to say sorry. I understand. Is it getting worse?”
He didn’t want to rat her out. “Just promise me when this is over, and I go home that you’ll get her into a really good facility, and maybe let me know how she’s doing?” he asked, knowing the end was coming. Tori was pulling away again.
“I promise, Julian,” Elizabeth offered, reassuringly. “We’ll make sure she’s taken care of until she’s well.”
“I’ll keep you updated,” stated Blackhawk. He could see the emotion in the man’s face. Apparently the romance between them wasn’t doing so well, and he didn’t think it had anything to do with the man talking to them.
“I’d appreciate it. If she ever needs anything,” he paused, swallowing he pain. “Just let me know, okay?” Julian barely choked out the words, before walking.
“That’s really sad,” stated Callen. “You can see how much he loves her. I wonder if she even notices.”
Elizabeth patted his cheek. “I think she’s in love with him, but the war is holding her captive. Until Tori works on that, she can’t work on love, Cal.”
Blackhawk put his arm around her shoulders. “Then we need to help them. I’ll call Gabe and get a list of the best facilities for veterans. Maybe, we should get her into one immediately.”
Elizabeth had seen her file. “I don’t think he’ll mind. In her personnel file, Gabe hired her personally.”
“Ohhh,” Blackhawk understood.
Callen looked confused. “Why is he ohhh’ing? I don’t get it.” He looked back and forth between them.
In their world Gabe was many things, but he didn’t hire employees. He left that to the HR department. “He knows her personally. Gabe only hires people to ‘fill’ special jobs. He hired us.”
“So then he’ll help her?” Callen liked the woman, and even more so, he liked Julian occupied with another woman and not hitting on Elizabeth.
“I promised her she could finish the assignment, and then she promised me she’d go wherever for treatment. When we contact Gabe, we�
��ll try and avoid telling him the agent is active in the field, he’ll shit himself,” she warned.
“Is she a danger to herself, Elizabeth,” questioned Blackhawk. If Agent Christensen was going to get herself killed, they had to pull her from the team immediately. There was only so much leeway they had to keep her active.
Neither man wanted her watching Elizabeth’s back, if there was the slightest chance she’d get her hurt.
“No, but she’s a danger to her heart and his.”
Tori stood under the hot water and washed the mud from her hair. It was caked in there pretty good. In her mind she kept replaying over and over what just happened during their game of football. Julian’s simple comment shouldn’t have upset her so much, but it did. When this was over, she’d love to run away with him and never look back, but she had obligations. A home here, a career and then there was the dream. Tori didn’t want to be the reason Julian was hurt or died.
As she rinsed her hair, she just knew he was there watching her. Whenever he was near, her heart would pound in her chest. Julian made Tori’s blood race and go completely crazy. When his hands circled her waist, she relaxed into it.
“Can I shower with you,” he whispered, running his lips over her ear. “Or are you mad at me?”
Tori turned fast, staring up at him. “It’s not you, Julian. It’s me. I told you, I’m damaged and I never know when I’m going to lose control over it. I don’t want to drag you down with me.”
He laid kisses across her face, trying to heal her. “It’s okay, honey. I understand,” he continued to slowly find a way to offer her comfort. It was damn difficult to keep himself in check; naked woman in the shower was a really alluring thing to the male body.
Tori just let him heal her. Slowly she began feeling more calm and relaxed.
“Julian, this isn’t my place,” she muttered against his mouth. The kiss was so warm and full of love that it sucked her in completely.
“Trust me honey, there’s plenty of sex going on in this house,” he whispered back. “Let me show you how I feel for you.”
Tori just went with it, allowing Julian to take her where ever he wanted. All she wanted was to feel, and this man was the only chance at that. That was the irony. She would only be happy with him, and yet she couldn’t be with him.
Damn you fate!
His hands slid across her soapy skin, and she offered no resistance. Julian took it as a sign to continue forwards. Dropping kisses across her flesh, he wanted to just taste every inch of her. Turning off the water, he dropped to his knees and left a trail of kisses to part of her he longed for most. Gently he progressed with the utmost tenderness, offering everything he could to just give her a glimpse of what was inside him for her. All he wanted was for her to feel and know the truth. Tori was his path to happiness, and he’d stay on it, as long as she’d let him.
As her body shook, he kept probing and searching for the right spot to push her over the edge. When he found it, her body vibrated from the explosion. Her hands slid into his hair and she struggled to stay upright.
The calm overwhelmed her as did the pleasure. “I want to feel you in me, Julian,” she whispered, pulling him to his feet, and directed him to the seat in the shower.
“Take whatever you need from me, Tori. I’ll give you everything I have,” he answered, watching her eyes start to fill with tears.
There was no doubt in her heart that he meant every word that he spoke. Tori slid him deep into her body and began the slow ride, staring into his handsome face the entire time. She refused to look away, and it only filled her with more and more emotion. Where she couldn’t say the words to him, she prayed he’d feel and see it. Until she was fixed, he deserved better. Yes, she loved him, but Tori wouldn’t give him half a person. What Julian deserved was all of her, and then some.
He deserved life not death.
Julian’s hands went to her hips, as he helped her get the rhythm down to bring them both pleasure. It was achingly sweet and gentle. When he saw the first tears fill her eyes and spill over, he didn’t try to stop them. He let her purge all the pain that was buried so deep inside her. All he could do was hold her, enjoy their coming together and pray that in the end, she’d find her way back to him.
“I love you, Tori,” he whispered again, leaning his head back against the tile to watch her bring them both pleasure.
His words both healed and hurt her. Here she found an amazing man, and she didn’t know how to keep him because she was damaged.
How did she save them both, when she couldn’t save herself?
As they slid together, joined, and mated, Julian felt peace. He was a firm believer in love and fate. When her body began to shake around his, he let himself be free to fall with her. Julian swallowed his name from her lips, and leapt off the edge into the bliss, riding out the pleasure and love that swamped him.
Tori recovered from the overwhelming desire and stared down into his face. “You mean a great deal to me, Julian. Please don’t doubt it.”
He was already aware of that. She’d let him into parts of her life he doubt others ever saw. “I know, honey. I’ve got you,” he whispered, kissing her again.
Julian made her forget, and then reality came back. “Holy shit!” Tori started snickering. “I can’t believe we just made love here!” Next came the uncontrollable giggles.
He grinned because Tori called it making love and not just sex, and that was exactly what it was. “Yes we did, but I think your secret’s safe with me.”
She looked at him confused? “My secret?” Tori had no clue what he was talking about.
“The one where you’re wildly obsessed with me and my body, and can’t keep your hands off me,” he answered with a straight face.
Tori just laughed, because he was very right.
Elizabeth stood at the kitchen stove top stirring the homemade hot chocolate for her guests. The turkey was in the oven, along with the other fixings that they were going to be having. The table had been set since last night, and everything was just waiting for the guest of honor to cook to a golden brown.
Callen was second downstairs, and immediately went to her side, wrapping his arm around her waist. “Hey beautiful, what can I help you with?” he inquired.
She kissed him softly. “How about you pull down the mugs for me, and I’ll get ready to serve our hot chocolate once everyone is down here.
“I think Wyler is lying down for a little while,” stated Callen. “He’s been busy all week with CJ and needs a nap.”
Elizabeth looked concerned. “Maybe watching two kids will be too much for him. I don’t want him to drop because he’s exhausted.”
Thinking about it, he kissed her cheek. “What if we got someone to help him,” he offered, looking up as Ethan came down the stairs with CJ in his arms.
Elizabeth kissed both of them when they entered the kitchen. “Maybe that’s a really good idea, Callen,” she said, tickling CJ’s feet.
“What’s a good idea?” he asked, looking from his brother to his wife.
“Dad’s taking a nap. I think we’re wearing him down,” stated Elizabeth. “Callen suggested getting him some help.”
Blackhawk considered it. “If we hire someone for the kids, he’ll be hurt. Dad will think we don’t think he can manage on his own.”
Whitefox spoke up. “How about a housekeeper. He’s always cooking dinner or tossing in laundry. What if we found someone to just help him out around the house with the things he’s taken on, and if he needs help with the kids, we have backup here.”
Elizabeth kissed him. “Great idea. I think we should, Ethan?” He would be the deciding factor.
“I’ll work on finding someone. I want to make sure we find a reputable individual that isn't going to harm our kids,” he added, laying his hand over Elizabeth’s flat stomach. “That’s my first concern.”
Elizabeth went up on her toes and kissed him. “The job is perfect for you. I have no doubt you’ll find Mary ‘f
reaking’ Poppins.”
Callen snickered. “What she means to say is you’re going to spend so much time micromanaging it to death you’ll be leaving her alone,” he said grinning.
They all laughed, because they knew he was right.
“Company boys,” Elizabeth warned, as their guests came downstairs holding hands. She began ladling out steaming mugs of hot chocolate and covering them with mountains of whipped cream. “Hi guys, dinner will be ready in about an hour, so we can have a drink and sit on the couch.”
Tori nodded, accepting her drink. “Can I talk to you, Elizabeth?” she said softly. When the woman nodded, the men all moved from the kitchen. With one last look over her shoulder, she didn’t know where to start.
“Are you okay, Tori? I’m getting increasingly worried about you,” Elizabeth began for her. “What can I do to help you?”
“I’m okay, Elizabeth. I just had a rough night last night with a dream. I really just wanted to say I’m sorry for ruining your holiday.”
It caught her off guard. “Tori,” she placed her mug on the counter and the woman’s with it. “My holiday is far from ruined,” she stated adamantly, hugging the woman. “Friends don’t ruin holidays because they’re hurting inside.”
Tori was shocked. Her bad ass boss, Elizabeth Blackhawk, was hugging her. It took her a few seconds to respond, as she weighted her options. Tori reciprocated the hug, and even more tension drained from her. Now she could genuinely enjoy the day.
“When this is over, Ethan’s going to get you into the best facility to work on your PTSD. Before you know it, the dreams will fade and the stress will be gone. If you want to go in now, we’ll find a place for tomorrow.”
Tori stepped back and shook her head. “No, I want to stay and complete this, find justice for these women, and then I can go in. I don’t like to leave things unfinished.”
“Does that include with Julian too?” she asked, hoping she didn’t make the woman close up and bolt.
This wasn’t a conversation she expected to be having with her boss, but she owed her. The woman could yank her out of the field so fast. She lowered her voice and told her the dream.
Fire Burns Hot ((An FBI/ Romance Thriller~ (Book 5))) Page 37
