Christmas is Killing (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 3)

by Morgan Kelley

  Now, it was her turn to smile. “That would be my pleasure.”

  Once inside, Trudy Booker led them into the family room. Her husband was sitting on the couch, with the remote in his hand as he watched some college bowl game. Once he noticed them, he turned off the TV and moved towards his guests.

  Greyson protectively housed Emma under his shoulder, and didn't plan on letting her out of his sight. If this man was responsible for everything that was happening, he wasn’t going to be left alone with his wife.

  “How are you both?” he asked enthusiastically.

  Emma smiled sweetly and let her husband lead this one. When it came to dealing with a corrupt snake, she’d let the Feds take control. There was no doubt in her mind that he already had a plan.

  Croft shook his hand. “We’re doing well, Tom. How about yourself and Trudy?”

  He led them to the couch. “We had a good holiday. The kids came home. In fact, you just missed them by a few hours. We’ve been busy with all sorts of family things.”

  Sitting, Greyson waited for Emma to get comfortable. She leaned into him with her hands resting on his thighs, and her head on his shoulder.

  “I’m glad your holiday ended well,” Trudy said, sweetly. “When we heard you were abducted, Emma, we were terribly worried for Greyson.”

  Emma watched her. Yeah, she wanted to beat the hell out of the woman, and she wasn’t a violent person. Trudy Booker just brought it out in her. There was no doubt that they were worried about her husband and not in a loving way either.

  “My wife is pretty tough.” He didn't say anything more. He was terrified to provoke any ideas of a repeat performance. “Anyway, thank you for inviting us over.”

  “We know you’re busy. I heard about Torrance Burns,” stated Booker. “I haven’t received the official report yet. How about you tell me about it?”

  He directed it at Emma from boss to employee.

  “It would be my pleasure,” she answered. “We found his prints on my coffee cup on the scene, and it matched with a print we found in a vehicle he stole,” Emma began. She was going to keep anything out of her verbal report that she could. They had all agreed. Her, Greyson and Captain Ford were all to hold back certain details. They didn't want the commissioner to know they were investigating him.

  “I can’t believe it was a cop,” stated Trudy. “Do you know why he took you?”

  Greyson shrugged. “Since he’s dead, we’ll never know. Whoever killed him cut off all chance of finding out. We may never know why this all happened,” he bluffed.

  The commissioner shook his head. “This is all a travesty. I hate that one of our own was dirty. I sent Captain Ford an email. He’s going to begin keeping a close eye on everyone and reporting back to me every day.”

  Croft bet that he would love that. The man wanted to know everything before it happened to keep on top of it all.

  “I’m just glad it’s over,” Emma said. “Greyson can go back to doing his thing, and I’m going back to doing mine.”

  “I’m thrilled you’ll be back to work,” Emma,” stated the commissioner. “You’re very good at your job.”

  “I might as well. The man who abducted me is gone.”

  Trudy left the room to go check on dinner.

  “Do you know why Torrance Burns was killed?” Booker asked, relaxing on the couch.

  “Since he was dirty, Captain Ford thinks he pissed someone off. That’s why he was offed. It was bad luck for us. Since he’s dead, we can’t get the information out of him.”

  “Yes, that’s too bad.”

  Emma wrote on his leg, liar. The man was a little too happy looking, to be sad a cop was killed.

  Croft was in agreement.

  “Let’s talk about something less depressing,” he said, grinning. “What did you think of Randall Mason’s party?”

  Trudy strolled in and sat beside her husband.

  Emma took over, “It was lovely. I enjoyed seeing everyone and celebrating. It’s always amazing when I can get my husband out for the night.”

  Thomas Booker leaned forward. “You were the centerpiece of the evening. Everyone was talking about your piano playing,” he said, grinning. “Well, that and your dress.”

  Croft tensed at his implications, and that the man was discussing his wife’s body. Some things were off limits.

  Trudy continued, ignoring her husband’s comments. “I hate to ask this, but there’s a charity auction coming up in the spring. We need someone to dazzle the rich folks out of all their money. Would you be willing to do it?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Croft kissed his wife. “You’ll be amazing. I’m sure Randall Mason will drop a fortune to see you play.” He’d make sure the man won it. Greyson didn't trust Mason completely, but it was the devil you knew. Emma would be safe, and he’d be there to observe too.

  “I’ll offer an hour of playing to the highest bidder,” Emma suggested. “Mr. Mason might enjoy that.”

  One of the best things about his wife was her intuition. She knew immediately, he wanted to discuss the man.

  “Speaking of Randall, you disappeared for a while at the party,” Booker stated.

  Hook. Line. Sinker.

  “We had some business to deal with,” Croft stated, nonchalantly.

  Booker didn't look happy. “You should be careful who you align yourself with in Vegas, Greyson. People might assume things that aren’t true.”

  Croft laughed. “Yeah, so they say.” He glanced over at his wife. “I’ve found Vegas to be a learning experience. Right, Emma my sweet?”

  She smiled. “Yes, Grey, but I do believe you have your bearings now and it’s under control.”

  Staring back at the man across from him, he threw down the gauntlet.

  “Randall has offered his tutelage. I’ve found it to be very helpful in learning who all the players are in the game. For a while, I’d thought to leave Vegas, but I’ve decided to stay and make it home.”

  Booker didn't say anything.

  The buzzer sounded from the kitchen.

  “Time for dinner,” Trudy said.

  “Yes, yes,” Booker said, hurrying them along. “We don’t want to keep you waiting all night. I’m sure tomorrow will be a busy day.”

  Greyson grinned ferally. He hoped that the man got his point. The Crofts weren’t afraid. There were new predators in town, and the word needed to be spread that they weren’t going to be anyone’s prey.

  Croft and Croft weren’t leaving Las Vegas.

  They were here to stay…

  Chapter Nineteen

  Monday Evening

  The ride home was enjoyable.

  Greyson and his wife reminisced about the good time they had at dinner while watching Thomas Booker worry. They’d put out the message that Croft was going to enter the game. With him being buddy-buddy with Mason, it had to make the man incredibly nervous.

  If Booker was responsible for his wife being abducted, he would be scared shitless. Taking her didn't make Greyson run scared, it had the opposite effect. What it did do was make him align with the perceived enemy.

  Croft wouldn’t ever play dirty or be someone who could be bought, but why not let the players in the game vying for his attention believe that he was no longer available. Now it looked like he was anteing into the pot.

  Their perception of him would matter in the long run as he worked his way through the seedy underbelly of Vegas to find the source of the bribes and the people who tried to hurt his wife.

  He’d find them.

  One way or another, and then he would take them apart.

  It offended him that they wanted him in their back pocket, but it angered him when they made a play for his woman.

  Glancing over at her, his heart melted. She was everything to him, and he swore on his life that he would keep her safe, one way or another. He had nearly lost her once, but it wasn’t happening again. He would make damn sure of it.

  “When we get home, I want a
very long shower and a glass of wine.” Emma stated out of the blue.

  “I may join you with the wine,” he replied, kissing her knuckles as he held her hand. “I have to skip the shower. I need to call into work first.”

  Emma understood. “You, me, couch, and wine in twenty minutes?” she asked, smiling in the dark confines of his car.

  “It’s a date.”

  Pulling into the garage, he began to formulate a plan. The call to work could wait, but romancing his wife couldn’t. Once she hit the shower, he had some time and he’d make sure they had a nice romantic night together. He owed her, especially after the way they came together last time.

  Now, he would be gentle and sweet to show Emma what really lived inside him for his wife. Tonight he’d make love to the woman who owned his heart.

  As they arrived home, Greyson pretended to make a call as he waited for the water to turn on in their shower.

  Grabbing candles and wine, he raced around the room. Damn, he wished he had time to get some roses, but that was out of the question.

  Turning off the lights, he watched the candles flicker. Now it was time to get changed. Slipping out of his clothes, he put on his pajama pants and leaned against the headboard with two glasses of wine. When the water turned off, he knew it was only a matter of time.

  Let the seduction of his wife begin.

  Emma wrapped herself in her silk robe and was towel drying her hair as she walked out of their bathroom. All that she could see were her feet and the now darkened room. Then, she heard the music and grinned.

  Looking up, she found her husband lounging on the bed with his ankles crossed and a wineglass in each hand as soft music played.

  “Are we having a date, Mr. Croft?” she asked, dropping the towel right there.

  “Yes we are, Mrs. Croft. Why don’t you hop on over here beside me? I do believe I owe you some lovin’.”

  Emma giggled as she climbed across the bed. “You’re pretty slick, Greyson. I thought you had a call to make.”

  “I did, but I’d rather spend the night with you. It can wait until tomorrow.”

  That touched her heart. Emma knew that it cost him to not focus on his job. “I do believe that I’m available for the rest of the night,” she replied, taking the wine from his hand.

  “To us, Emma, and to everything we’re building together as the world tries to tear it down. You’re my all and we’re indestructible.” He clinked his goblet off hers.

  Emma took a sip of the wine, and then leaned into her husband. While wine was tasty, Greyson was far better any day.

  As her lips met his, the wine glass in her hand was placed on the night stand. Her hand was then free to wander to explore his naked torso. Nothing was more intoxicating than her fingers trailing across his flesh and through the spattering of chest hair.

  This, she could do for the next billion years and never be bored.

  “Emma,” he murmured, moving to her neck and throat and leaving little nips there to make her shiver. “Tonight is all about you my little kitten. I want to make you purr for me,” he admitted, sliding them down onto the bed.

  “Yes, Grey, please,” she whispered back, as the belt to her robe slid undone, and everything opened to his view.

  “I’ve never seen anything so perfect. My wife is incredible,” he stated, kissing his way lower and lower.

  Her hands went into his hair as Greyson lavished his attention on her breasts, teasing one, and then the other. Now, it was time to focus all his attention on her, refusing to miss a single spot.

  “God, honey, I love the way you taste and feel,” Greyson whispered, slipping lower. Already, he was hard and ready for her, but he refused to offer Emma anything but complete pleasure. She deserved to feel special, loved and so very important, because she was all that and so much more.

  This was his precious treasure.

  “Mmmmmm, Grey,” she whispered, arching into his lips as he moved lower. “You’re really good at that,” she purred. He’d managed to heat her right up with some really well placed strokes and caresses.

  “It takes practice and I still need more time,” he answered, knowing there’d never be enough. He wanted forever to be with her. His heart swelled at the feelings coursing through his body.

  This was his woman.

  His wife.

  And Greyson’s better half.

  God, he loved her so much that he couldn’t even put it into words. Slipping lower, he found his treasure, and she was ready for him. At first touch, she moaned and he grinned. He loved how she responded to his touch.

  When he swirled his tongue, tickling and teasing her, she whispered his name. Everything in his body responded to the breathy sound of ‘Greyson’ on her lips. It was perfect and fuelled him on to taste and devour more of his wife.

  When her body began shaking, he knew she was so close. Nipping Emma’s most sensitive part of her body, she gasped, and then shattered apart.

  “Oh, Grey,” she whispered, swamped with the colors and feeling of him pushing her over the edge.

  Sliding up her body, he wanted to stare into her eyes as they made love. Instantly, she wrapped her legs around his hips, inviting him to enter her.

  “I want you so much, Emma. Every day, there’s this hunger and I can’t feed it enough.”

  She ran her fingers down his cheek. “I’m here for you, Grey. I’ll feed all your desires,” she whispered, pulling him down to her mouth as they kissed.

  He moaned as he slid into her body. All he wanted was to feel her wrapped around his erection. He was hard and dying to experience her welcoming silkiness that always invited him home.

  Ever so slowly, he began moving in and out of her body. He wanted her to feel everything. He needed her to know the truth, and that no matter what happened, chased them, or transpired, she was the center of his existence. Emma was his heart and without her, Greyson couldn’t go on.

  It was hard to not feel complete and total pleasure with each breathtakingly deep stroke. Her husband filled her and it threatened to pull her under the pleasure. It was wrapping around them both, as he made love to her body and mouth at the same time.

  Breaking the kiss, he stared down into the face of his woman and watched her eyes. “I adore you,” he whispered, watching them fill with tears. They were green mysterious pools that sucked him in and trapped him there. “You’re my home, Emma. I belong right here with you.”

  She shook again, as his words and body undid everything in her.

  “I love you, Grey,” she replied, her voice catching in her throat, as the emotion overtook her. “Until my last breath, you’ll live in my heart.”

  His eyes filled too, as his woman untied the knots in his soul. Emma was offering him freedom from any pain. She fixed all the damage that threatened to steal him away.

  Emma couldn’t hold on any longer, and she slipped, falling off into the bliss. The only words she could muster, were the ones where she begged him to follow.

  The way her body gripped him and lured him to the edge with his woman, how could he resist? Taking the leap, he followed, falling into such delicious pleasure. “Emma!” he called, as if searching for her. When he found the love of his life, he safely tucked her beneath him to assure that they would surface together.

  Moments passed, and she stayed locked around him. “I don’t want to let go,” she whispered, her voice becoming sleepy and heavy with exhaustion.

  “Close your eyes, Em. I’ll be here. I promise,” he whispered, listening to her easy breathing as she began slipping into sleep.

  Lifting his head, he laid kisses across her freckled nose before sliding her from his body. Walking around the room, he extinguished all the candles, corked the wine and returned to her side. Once in bed, Emma instinctually moved into him and cuddled against him.

  “I love you, kitten,” he whispered softly, trying not to wake her.

  The corners of her mouth curled. “Meow.”

  * * *

  H
e’d enjoyed using her. When he found her awake and struggling to get free, he knew it was going to be spectacular. The look on her face got his adrenaline pumping, as he enjoyed running his fingers across her very soft flesh.

  To hide it under the clothing was a sin, and she should be ashamed of herself. It was perfect, it was delicious, and he just wanted to eat her in little bites.

  When she realized what was coming, the fear was even more palpable. She screamed into the tape and pleaded for her life.

  When she watched him slip into her body she fought so valiantly, but to no avail.

  As he pushed into her, the pleasure spread across his features. He was the only man to ever touch her that way, and it made the truth more evident. She was most definitely ‘nice’.

  He had chosen well. None of the other women gave him this happiness.

  She was the pinnacle in which all others were judged.

  As he placed her body carefully in the parking garage, he snickered and wondered what the Feds would say or do when they found out that there were more coming.

  Would they be horrified?

  God, he hoped so. He was definitely good at something in life, and this was it.

  Staring down at her, he figured that taking her would abate the need in him, but he was still hungry. In fact, he was still starving for more and more.

  Alas, now he had no choice. This couldn’t be the end, because it wasn’t balanced out. He needed the other half, and then he could stop.

  He laughed, knowing this wouldn’t ever let up.

  The need consumed him to be good at something.

  To be the best he could be.

  Even if it was only as a killer…

  * * *

  Tuesday Morning

  Croft sat at the island with his partner having his coffee. Neither man was speaking, but both were smiling like the Cheshire cat.

  Emma watched them and finally made some amused sound.