Funny, her mind had gone totally blank. “Never mind, babe. Carry on.”
* * *
Pulling into her driveway, he parked his car. It was past eleven at night, and he simply didn't care. He needed to talk to her, and he’d kick the door in to do it. What was being built between them was going to be torn down.
It had to stop right here and now, before it further threatened everything.
Rushing up to the door, he rang the bell and knocked loudly. He waited a few seconds before doing it again and again. Next, he’d start calling to her from beneath the window.
At this point, he’d do anything.
Tessa wasn’t going to hide from him or the situation brewing between them.
They needed to have a talk.
At the sound of her doorbell and banging, she sat upright in bed. Reaching for her gun, she slowly crept down the stairs. Looking out the living room window, she saw his car.
Well shit.
She’d gone to bed thinking about him, and here he was again.
Placing her gun inside her purse, she opened the door. “What do you want? Are you out of your damn mind, Paris?” she accused. “It’s almost midnight.”
“Let me in.”
She refused to unlock the screen door. “No! Go home. We’re done discussing anything outside of work. After hours, I’m off limits to you.”
She went to close the door.
“Okay, I’ll yell it to you from down here.” He took three steps backwards and began. “Tessa, I’m sorry I hurt you after we had sex!” he shouted.
Immediately, the door was wrenched open and she stood there staring in horror. “Have you been drinking?” Tessa hissed as she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him inside. “My neighbors are going to call the cops.”
“We are the cops,” he answered, pointing out that little fact.
“Paris, what do you want? I’m tired, and it’s been a really long day. Spill it, and then get the hell out.”
He wasn’t going to give her any chance to retreat emotionally from him. “I hurt you, and I’m so sorry.”
She went to cut him off and this time he stopped her. “No, Tess. You’re going to listen to me. I shouldn’t have called what happened a mistake. I should have been honest about what I was feeling. It was amazing, spectacular, and perfect.”
Tessa let him continue. Once he was done, she had every intention to kick him out.
“I know about your past,” he admitted.
Immediately, she became angry. “Get out! Get out of my house and out of my life!”
He refused. “I was afraid to lose our partnership. What I have with you at work is beyond anything in my life. You’re my other half. You complete my sentences and give me strength by just a touch. I was afraid to lose that.”
She moved away from him and into her living room.
“Then I discovered a treasure. I was given something even more amazing and perfect. You let me into your life, and I paid you back with stupidity.”
Tessa refused to look at him.
“I didn't realize that having you in my arms meant more than anything, until you took it away. Then I became the mistake, for you. You’re far from an error, Tessa. If anything, you’re the best damn thing that ever happened to me, personally and professionally.”
She whirled around and finally faced him. “You hurt me, Paris. I don’t sleep around. I don’t have meaningless one-night stands. To call what happened between us a mistake crushed me.”
“I’m am asshole.”
“Yes, you are.”
At least they were agreeing on something now. He pushed forwards. “Please forgive me. Give me another chance to prove that you and I can fix this and make it work.”
“What about work?”
“Screw it. I don’t care. Right now, I need to repair us.”
Tessa was so angry and hurt. “So, you expect me to just say that all’s forgiven and hop back into bed with you until you get freaked out again and hurt me more?”
“I don’t want to hop into bed with you. I don’t want to have sex.”
She stared at him. “This day is getting worse and worse,” she said, closing her eyes.
Paris moved closer. Lifting her chin, he waited for her to stare into his eyes. “I didn't mean never again. I was referring to right now. I want to fix us, and show you that you matter. I need to make you believe that when it comes to us, you’ll never be an error. What we’ve started is never going to be a mistake.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“You aren’t, Tess. Sleeping with you wasn’t a one night Christmas deal. I feel something for you, and I want to prove I can be your partner in bed and at work.” He watched as her lower lip quivered, and she fought to hold back the dam of tears. “Let me prove it to you, Tess,” he whispered, before lowering his lips delicately to hers. Gently, he coaxed her into his arms and waited until her body responded to his.
Tessa wanted to be mad, but she couldn’t. It was more than a one-night stand for her too. Her one hand went to the back of his neck as she held herself to him, while her other hand touched his cheek.
Lovingly, he kissed her on the tip of her nose.
The sweetness overwhelmed her, and the tears began their fall down her cheeks.
When he pulled away, the pain in her eyes shot daggers through his heart. “Can I stay the night?” he asked as he wiped the tears away with his thumbs.
“I thought you said no sex.”
He shook his head. “I meant it. I want to hold you and offer you comfort. Tomorrow, we can discuss you dating me.”
“But work,” she began, knowing it would be ugly.
“Tomorrow, Tessa,” he whispered picking her up in his arms. “Let’s go to bed, baby.”
“Okay, Paris,” she answered, laying her head on his shoulder. “Let’s go to bed.”
Chapter Fifteen
Monday Morning
As the gray sky just began to get the innocuous touches of light across its horizon, Emma Croft began to come awake. Sleeping soundly beside her was her husband, lost deep in slumber.
Turning off her alarm, she watched the slow rise and fall of his strong chest. What she wanted to do was run her fingers through the scattering of hair and follow it down his well-defined body to things that made her shiver and shake.
Thinking about it, she decided that there should be only one way to wake him up, since he helped her fall asleep last night in his own way.
Carefully sliding beneath the blanket, she blew ever so gently across his erection, waiting to see if it would wake to her breath. The soft breeze didn't disturb him, and there wasn’t even a hitch to his chest. When her little game wasn’t stopped, Emma immediately went back to her adventure at hand.
This time, she ran a fingertip up the length of him, enjoying how his body reacted to her touch. Already, she eagerly wanted to climb all over him. Something about the man’s physique and muscular frame made her crazy with lust.
Cautiously taking him in her hand, she brought her lips to the tip of him and planned to worship his body and pull him from sleep. Nothing in the world gave her as much pleasure as knowing that her husband responded to her touch like this.
Beginning her work, she offered up as much attention to detail as possible, leaving no part un-worshiped.
It didn't take long to get his attention.
Greyson was so deep in sleep, that at first he didn't register the touch of his wife’s hand holding him. Then suddenly, the warmth of her mouth enveloped him and offered him every pleasure that his body craved. His eyes snapped open as he stared down his body to find his wife busily distracting herself under their comforter.
“Emma,” he moaned, arching into the wet heat of her mouth. It was sinful and an amazing way to wake up. “God, honey,” he muttered, sliding his hands beneath the blanket to find her head and hair. Burying his hands in the silky richness, he enjoyed the wispy strands tickling his legs as she continued her torture.
> When she ran her fingers over his thigh, he shivered and goose bumps formed across his body. As if not enough torture, she cupped him, almost causing him to lose it right there.
“Honey, you really are killing me.”
Emma nearly laughed, as her lips moved up his body to other locations that she could find, tease, and torment. When she reached his chest, Emma teased and tormented his nipples with her teeth.
The pleasure shot right through him and made him even wilder for the woman crawling all over him. “To what do I owe this pleasure, Em?” he asked as he fought hard to not roll with her and take her in some sweaty romp. She was having her own little party, and who was he to complain.
He prayed it would never stop.
“I figured we’d kick today off right, in honor of our first interrogation,” she whispered, moving up to his throat and stubbly jaw.
It was hard to think, and he struggled to remember what they were going to be doing later the in the morning. “Oh yeah, bondage questions,” he replied, feeling his heart pound harder at all the pictures popping into his head.
Just then, Emma bit him on the ear and pulled a moan from deep within his chest.
She straddled his body, taking his hands in hers and locking their fingers together as she pressed them into the bed beside his head. Wiggling down his body, she found what she wanted and slid him into her in one quick thrust.
“Christ,” he muttered, watching his wife above him. “I’m having a hard time concentrating,” he stated honestly, as she began riding him.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked, enjoying the feel of her husband filling her.
“Bondage, naked wife, sex and,” before he could finish, she ground down, stealing his breath. “And that.”
Emma giggled. “Maybe next time I’ll handcuff you to the bed, Greyson,” she purred, before taking his mouth with hers.
Every single nerve ending in his body fired at that exact moment, making him want his woman even more.
“Picture that in your head,” she added, biting his lower lip and enjoying the sound he was making from pleasure overload. “Real ones, so you can’t get away,” she continued.
Already, he was so close to the edge, but when she released his hands, bringing them to her hips, he began quivering. “Emma,” he watched as she used his body to find so much pleasure, and offer him the same in return.
“I love everything about you, Grey,” she admitted, slamming down hard on him to watch him squirm beneath her.
“Emma,” he begged. “I want you so bad.”
Her laughter filled the room and traveled across his flesh as it made him want to wrap the warmth of it around his body. He once believed he was the one in charge of their lives, but he knew she had all the power. People may assume that he was leading the relationship, but he knew the truth. For this to never end, he’d crawl on glass to get to her.
“I want to feel you lose control, Greyson. I enjoy watching you come undone.”
That was exactly what it felt like to him. Someone had snapped his control, and he was uncoiling at her feet. “More Emma, give me more,” he pleaded.
Placing her palms on his chest, she increased the tempo, staring down into his eyes as they came together. When she shattered apart, she wanted, no needed, him to join her in the pleasure.
“Oh honey,” he moaned, trying not to watch her body bounce above him, if his eyes left her face, he would erupt.
Suddenly, she stopped and grinned wickedly at him. “I want to try something,” she stated, as she kept him deeply buried in her body. Spinning to face the other way, Emma offered him a different vantage point of their lovemaking.
Oh Christ, he wasn’t going to make it long if this was what he was going to be watching. His hands went to her hips, and he prayed for divine intervention.
Slowly, she slid up and peeked over her shoulder at him to watch his reaction. When she came down, his body bowed and his hands dug unto her hips in an attempt to hold onto control.
“Emma,” he moaned, as his wife made sure to give him the full view of his body exiting and entering her. It was the hottest and sexiest thing she could possibly do. What man didn't want to watch his woman from behind?
When she increased the tempo, his moans became wilder, as he fought so hard to not lose it before she did.
“I’m close, Grey,” she slammed down on just the right spot, sending little waves of heat through her body. “Just need a few more…” she began, landing on the right spot time after time.
“God, I can’t hold out,” he hissed, watching himself slide into her. It was the visual which was pushing him closer and closer. When she slammed down again, shouting his name, Emma shattered in a blistering, heat-filled eruption.
“Oh, shit Emma!” he yelled back as his entire body seemed to implode in, and then exploded out.
She braced herself with her hands on his shins as they both fought to catch their breath. Looking back over her shoulder, she grinned triumphantly at her husband.
“I’m almost scared shitless to ask where you learned that trick,” he muttered, watching the smug smile on her face.
Pulling her backwards, he tucked her into his body and cuddled against her.
“You think you’re the only one who can Google sexual positions on the internet?” she said, laughing at the look on his face.
It was priceless.
“You’re a very bad girl, Emma,” he playfully scolded, and then whispered in her ear. “I loved every second of it.”
She giggled. “Now, you have to schlep me around. I think I’m numb from the hips down.”
Croft rolled out of their bed laughing. “After that, I’ll carry you around all day.”
Emma wouldn’t mind that. There was nothing more pleasurable than being in his arms.
“I enjoyed this morning so much, that I’ll even make you breakfast.”
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed the side of his face. “If I knew sex was the way to get you to cook, I would have Googled it so much sooner.”
He kissed his wife and teasingly growled at her. “Don’t push your luck, woman.”
“Yes, Mr. Croft.”
It was a weird sensation to wake up in someone’s arms, when you generally slept alone. What amazed Tessa most was, that true to his words, Paris didn't push for sex. He was fully clothed, and allowing her to use him as her pillow.
The slow in and out of his breathing gave away that he was still asleep. Sliding away from him, she snuck out of the room and down to the kitchen to make them breakfast. Putting on the coffee, she sensed him there.
“Morning,” he said, waiting for her to face him. Paris had wondered if she would still be receptive to him being around. When he felt her slip from the bed, he knew that he needed to face her immediately. He wasn’t giving her a chance to escape him.
Tessa turned towards him.
“Thank you for letting me stay last night,” he stated. Paris really wanted to cross to her and hold her against his body. It had been a very long night, but if this was his penance, so be it.
“Are we in the polite phase of our relationship?” she inquired, watching his face. It lacked any emotion.
“I’m afraid you’ll be upset if I say anything wrong. I’m new at this kind of thing and haven’t a clue.”
Tessa didn't want him to be a nervous wreck. She was well aware that Paris over thought everything. Moving towards him, she went up on her toes to kiss him. Without hesitation, his arms went around her and held them together. She drove the kiss, finally backing off and allowing him to set the pace.
God!
She felt so good against his body, and the kiss was clearing the fog from his sleep deprived body. He knew if he kept going, he’d be breaking his promise. Slowly pulling away, he groaned as she still had his lip between her teeth.
“What the hell was I thinking?” he muttered.
She tensed at his comment and prepared for the dreaded words.
&nbs
p; He sensed her fear. Staring into her eyes, he offered reassurance. “I was talking about the no sex part. I’m clearly an idiot.”
Suddenly, she started laughing as he broke the tension. “Yeah, that wasn’t the brightest thing that I’ve seen you do.”
Paris was glad the old Tessa was back. “Don’t sugar coat it, Tess.”
“Do you want breakfast?” she offered as she laughed.
“Are you cooking it? I eat out a lot, and I’m really not competent in the kitchen to do anything more than watch.”
Tessa stared up into his eyes. “I think I can do that. I hope you like eggs and bacon. I eat that every morning.”
He stared at the ceiling, “Hallelujah!”
Snickering, she crossed the kitchen to her stove. “If you want coffee, it’s over there,” she offered. “Cream is in the refrigerator.”
Paris was grateful for the caffeine. “Are you sure you’re not a man?”
“What?” she asked incredulously, as she turned to face him. “Where the hell did that come from?”
Paris pointed into her refrigerator. “You have meat, cheese, butter, more butter, eggs, more meat, and lettuce in here. It’s like a man lives here. Oh and heavy whipping cream by the drum. Are you secretly married?”
Tessa snorted. “Shut up, you goof.”
He’d worked with her long enough to know how she liked her coffee, and he made her a mug too. “We should probably talk,” he stated, knowing she needed the details of what happened the prior night.
“Uh oh. Is that good or bad?”
Paris didn't know how she was going to feel about what he needed to tell her. “It’s about work.”
Now, she looked a little frazzled herself. “How bad is it, Paris?”
“Croft knows about us sleeping together.”
She stared at him openmouthed. “Oh, that’s more than bad.”
“Apparently, we clued him in yesterday with our behavior, and when he asked me about it, I lied. Croft knew immediately.”
“Oh shit, Paris! You suck at lying. That’s why I do it for you all the time.”
Christmas is Killing (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 3) Page 36
