Love is Bleeding (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 4)

by Morgan Kelley

  The emotion welled up, and his eyes filled with tears. “I love her so damn much, and I can’t saddle her with this for the rest of her life. I’m not going to walk again, I can’t carry her up to bed, and I may never have the same sex life as I used to with her. It’s selfish of me to bind her to someone who is less than a man.”

  He crossed his arms. “I’m a little surprised. I honestly believed you were intelligent, so I’ll assume that last statement was you conducting your own little pity party. If you, for one second, think that she’s worried about your sex life right now, you obviously dropped a few IQ points.”

  Paris was hurting for his Tessa. She was all that mattered in his life. “I can’t give her a future, Director.”

  He stopped him. “For the record, Paris, I’m off duty and more than just your boss. I’m your friend, and as such, I’m going to tell you that hurting her to push her away is a shitty thing to do. If you don’t love her, set her free, but if you’re as crazy for her as I think you are, fight for it.”

  “We won’t have kids.”

  “Yeah, well they’re overrated. I don’t have kids and you don’t see me crying over it. What you didn't see, after you were shot, was how she laid beneath you, holding you and begging for you to stay with her. She had every damn agent on that scene bawling like a damn baby, including me. She loves you and was forced to hold the man she loved in her arms, believing you were dying. That was a hard pill to swallow. Stay or go, that’s up to you, but don’t jack with her heart. If you love her enough, make it work, but if you don’t, then walk away so another guy can offer her happiness. Tessa is a smart, beautiful woman who deserves a man to love her. Give it to her, or let her find someone who will.”

  At those words, Paris became sick. He didn't want anyone else loving his Tessa. It hurt his heart. He changed the subject. “I guess I’m out of a job now, too,” he stated.

  Greyson was good at being a boss. Immediately, he softened, knowing when to push and when to support. “I already talked to my boss. You’re not losing your job, Paris. We’re going to morph it, and work on making it fit whatever happens from here on out. You’re still smart and good at profiling, even if you can’t walk.”

  “And Tess?”

  He knew this was going to be the hard part. He’d yet to work out all the details, but he planned on making sure that she stayed in Vegas if she worked, and didn't have to travel. “She’ll be assigned a new partner, and she’ll go back to work. It’s what she does, and needs to do.”

  “I see.”

  “Look at the big picture on this. Now you can marry her.”

  Paris was wrought with emotion. It had been what he wanted, but he was still worried about saddling her with a cripple. “If I marry her, look what she’s getting.”

  “Yeah, it must suck for her to get stuck with a man she’s hopelessly in love with. She already sent in her forms for a leave of absence. She’s planning on sticking by your side. Tessa is going to drive you insane by nursing you back to health. Here’s my little piece of man-wisdom. Women don’t do anything they don’t want to do. You can’t make them. So, her staying by your side means a whole hell of a lot.”

  God, he loved her so much.

  She was his angel.

  “Am I selfish for wanting her forever?” he asked, his eyes spilling over with tears.

  Croft grabbed a tissue and wiped them. “No. Forcing her away and never telling her how you really feel is the selfish part, Paris. Killing her heart because you’re afraid is the thing that will drive that wedge between you both. We both know that you’re smart enough to know how to push her away, but are you smart enough to know how to keep her by your side?”

  He didn't know.

  Paris wanted her there, but he wasn’t sure he could make her life change like his had. “Thank you,” he said, grateful for the honest conversation.

  “Stop over thinking this, Paris,” he warned, patting the man on the arm. “This time, put away the brain and go with your heart. It’ll help you get the answer.”

  “You think?” he asked.

  “Trust me on this one, son. It’s the only way to go.”

  * * *

  Walking into their home, they dropped their gear on the floor. It had been a long day. As soon as they kicked of their shoes, Dante and Hairy the cat appeared.

  “Oh look, the welcoming committee,” Emma said, scratching the furball behind the ears.

  “Hey, you two look beat,” Dante said, hugging Emma when she was finished with the feline.

  “Yeah, it was a hell of a long day,” she mumbled into his chest.

  “I saw it all on the news. It’s a feeding frenzy,” he stated, hugging his brother next. “I’m glad you’re both home safe. Is there anything I can get you?” Dante asked.

  “Yeah, a serial killer.”

  “What store in this town carries them?” he quipped back, earning a pat on the back from his brother. “Do you have a preference, or will anyone do?”

  “I wish it was that simple,” he replied. “Are you going out?”

  Dante nodded. “I’m meeting a friend for dinner.”

  Croft lifted a brow. “Oh, really? Is this a sexy friend you hope to hop into bed with? Or a friend you’re going to be looking for babes with?”

  Emma elbowed him, handing Dante the keys to her Navigator. “Have at it, and don’t answer him. It’s none of your big brother’s business.”

  Dante laughed. “I don’t mind. It’s option A, and if I do have sex, then I’ll keep that to myself.”

  Croft patted him on the back as he walked past. “This is Vegas, son, use protection. You don’t want any of your man bits to fall off.”

  Emma snorted at the comment. “Well, I’m ready to eat now after that visual.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I’ll keep that in mind as I’m getting ready to have sex. It’s such a turn on to be thinking about an STD.”

  Croft grinned. “Have fun.”

  When he was gone, Greyson headed out to the balcony. When he sat in the chair, saying nothing, Emma knew it was time for a little intervention.

  Heading to the liquor cabinet, she poured them both a drink, and grabbed him a cigar. Her cave-Croft was all worked up, and she knew why.

  “I say we skip dinner and drink instead,” she offered, handing him a glass. Without putting up a fight, he took a good healthy sip.

  “Now I need a cigar,” he stated.

  Emma was ready and pulled the Cuban from her back pocket. “Let me help you,” she offered, clipping it and flicking open the engraved zippo she had bought him.

  When his eyes flashed gray fire, Emma knew how to heal the aches in his heart. She was going to distract her husband. “Is this seat taken?” she asked, pointing to his lap.

  He laughed. “It should already be, but my woman is a little slow tonight.”

  Emma released her hair and took her gun off her hip. Dropping down in his lap, she began leaving kisses across his jaw and throat. “Tell me what’s bothering you,” she offered, teasing his earlobe with her teeth.

  “He’s thinking of pushing her away.”

  Emma didn't need any more than that. “They’ll work it out, babe. You have to have faith. This entire thing sucks, but one way or another, they’ll find their way back to center again. This is just a bump in the road.”

  “If I were paralyzed…” He couldn’t even finish the sentence, it was that horrible.

  “I’d never leave you. Our lives would be exactly the same. I’m always in your lap anyway, so if it were to ever happen, I’d have a permanent spot to perch.”

  He nuzzled her cheek. “He’s worried about the sex.”

  Emma could understand that. “Well, that’s a back burner for now, but disabled people can still lead full lives. If it were us, we’d figure it out. I’m not just with you for the sex, Greyson, and Tessa isn't with Paris for the fornication either.”

  “No?” he asked, running his hands across her body as he smoked his cigar.


  “No. I’m with you because you’re the sexiest man on the planet. When I see my husband, I want to do incredibly wicked things to him.”

  She had his attention. “That sounds like sex to me,” he muttered.

  “I want to run my mouth across every inch of your body until I’ve tasted all of you,” she replied, running her hands through his hair.

  “And?”

  “I want to spend hours in bed with you, having you buried in me, until we can’t tell where I end and you begin.”

  His heart skipped.

  “Emma,” he murmured, as her fingers went to the buttons on his shirt. “Why else are you with me?”

  “You smell so good,” she whispered, tasting every inch of his throat. “I want to wear your clothes and smell like my husband every single day.”

  He swallowed as she got the last button open. “I love when you touch me, honey,” he said, putting his glass down beside his cigar in the ashtray.

  “When I think about you, Grey, I get wild.” Running her fingers down his chest, she stopped just shy of his belt buckle. When he sucked in a breath, she hopped off his lap and held out her hand.

  “Come with me,” she said, leading him to their bedroom. Once inside, she started stripping out of her clothes as he watched. She moved slowly, deliberately, and with the intent to tease and torment her husband.

  First, her shirt hit the floor. Beside it landed her pants, until she was standing there in just her bra and panties. It was a lacy one which he’d bought for her.

  “Emma,” he murmured, needing his wife to heal all the guilt that was building in him over his agent being hurt.

  Stalking toward him, Emma reached out and flicked his pants open with one smooth motion. When she dropped to her knees in front of him, his body shook.

  “Emma,” he whispered, as she brought her mouth to the zipper on the front of his pants, and with her teeth, lowered it. It was so erotic, and it made his body tighten and harden beyond comfort.

  What he wanted was his wife.

  All of her.

  When she finished her task, she stared up at him. “I want to enjoy my husband tonight.”

  “Oh, by all means,” he offered, knowing that he was more than willing to be her plaything.

  At his husky sounding voice, her body heated up. She roughly yanked his boxers and pants down, only to have him spring free. “That’s what I’m talking about,” she murmured, running the palm of her hand up the smooth length of him. When he quivered, she was in heaven.

  “I need you, Emma. Please,” he begged.

  With his words, she wanted to offer him what lived in her. The fire was stoked, and she took him in her mouth. Immediately, he moaned as she tasted him.

  “Emma, honey,” he said, burying his hands in her hair. As she worked him like some sex starved maniac, all he could think of was how he wanted her like this for the rest of their lives.

  Suddenly, she stopped.

  “Get on the bed, Greyson,” she ordered, walking over to her pants and pulling off her handcuffs. His eyes tracked her, and by the bob of his erection, she could tell he wasn’t going to protest.

  He did what she asked, partly because he had a hot woman offering him sex, and he was rampantly curious about her use of a prop. For Christmas, his wife had given him a catalog and told him to pick something out. He’d yet to do it, and now he was regretting it.

  When she climbed up his body, he shook with want. He was excited before, but now he was getting wild.

  “I think it should be you in cuffs, kitten,” he said.

  “Then, you should have thought about it sooner, Grey. Now, you’re my prisoner.”

  At her words, his body reacted. When she locked his arms above his head and perched herself across his erection, he was wild. As the silkiness of her lacy undergarment slid across his heated flesh, he moaned.

  “Oh, you like that?” she purred, sliding her body up and down his skin, making him crazy.

  “Emma,” he murmured, knowing that the sensation was going to bring him closer to the edge. “You need to stop,” he warned, his body already tight with need.

  Of course, she did what any wife of a caveman would. Emma ignored him, continuing to torture him. When he shook, she leaned down to nip at his flesh.

  “Oh, Emma,” he moaned as little ripples of heat tore through his body. She was driving him wild.

  Straddling his hips, she ended the contact, only having him protest. Reaching behind her, she freed herself from her bra, and then continued rubbing herself against his chest. The tickle of Greyson’s chest hair teased and aroused her.

  “I need you, Emma. Please. Just stop the teasing.

  Immediately, she slid down his body and took him back in her mouth. As her hair slid against his heated flesh and her mouth made him squirm, Croft knew he was in a bad situation.

  He had a kitten who was a little too wild for her own good.

  “Emma, I have a really bad arm cramp. It’s killing me,” he said, faking the pain.

  When she glanced up, she immediately looked worried. “Oh, Grey!” she said, rushing to set him free. “Which arm, babe, I’ll rub it.”

  The second he was free, he rolled and reversed their positions. Pulling her arms above her head, he slapped the cuffs on despite her struggles. Then, he grinned down at her. “It’s my turn.”

  Before she could protest, he did the exact same thing to her. His mouth found her breasts, and he wasn’t going to pass up the moment of having her as his captive. In fact, he was going to enjoy it.

  Emma moaned as his lips traced fire across her breasts, and his hands explored lower. “You taste good, Emma,” he said, nipping her. When her body bowed, he became crazed. “I think I’m going to enjoy keeping my wife trapped more often. I seem to like keeping my kitten on a leash.”

  Emma didn't have any words. Why she thought that she could trick and torment Greyson was beyond her. He was too sneaky.

  When he traveled lower, he found her wet and ready for him and that was through the lace. Now, he’d get rid of the last barrier between him and his wife.

  When she was free, he began lapping at her until she pleaded. “That doesn’t sound like you’re really sorry for tricking your husband, Emma. Now, why don’t you try harder,” he demanded, before going back to his prize.

  Emma gave him what he wanted. She always would. Her dominant husband brought it out in her. He was her caveman and she couldn’t be happier.

  “Grey,” she moaned. “I’m so close.”

  It was all he needed to hear. He stopped and moved back up her body. Her strangled protest heated him, urging him to drive her insane. Greyson loved that she was feeling playful in bed, but now he was feeling something more.

  When he brought his mouth to hers, she kissed him hungrily. His little kitten was desperate, and he loved it. Since she was focused on that, he took the moment to slide fully into her, tearing a gasp from her mouth.

  “Now you’re going to really beg,” he said, staring down into her eyes. They were filled with lust, and it fueled him on. Starting to slide in and out of her body, Emma arched into each delicious stroke. Before long, they were both close. As she got that dreamy look in her eyes, he did the unthinkable, he stopped and pulled out.

  “Greyson!”

  If she wanted to play, he would give her just that. “What, Emma my sweet?”

  “Please. I need you.”

  He laughed, running his fingers down her torso. Croft had to admit, he loved having her laid out in front of him like some sexy buffet.

  “I haven’t heard you apologize yet,” he said, running his fingers over her taut nipples. “Your husband is waiting.”

  She stared up at him, focused on his fingers and the electricity that was shooting through her body. “I’m sorry, Grey. I’ll be good. Just please! I need you.”

  Her words made it hard to not give her want she wanted. It was torture to not slide into her and claim his wife, over and over again.

 
When he positioned himself above her body, the torment continued. As her body shook, needing that contact, he enjoyed the desperation. “Beg, Emma.”

  “Please, Grey! Take me!”

  He still didn't move. Emma wiggled closer, and he moved just out of her reach. Then, she knew what he wanted. For months, he’d pushed her buttons and tried to get her to say it.

  Oh, if he wanted it, she’d give him the words.

  “I need you to bury yourself in me and fuck me, Grey,” she purred, the kitten back in control, at least for now.

  The words reverberated through his brain, and his body shook in want. Without warning, he surged forward, burying himself in her body.

  The rough thrust ripped through her and sent her falling over the edge, but it didn't last long. There was no time for bliss as he gave her what she wanted.

  Greyson Croft was out of control, and he was taking his wife with him. Moving into her, he found his rhythm, and wouldn’t let up. As she met each and every thrust, they both found so much pleasure in their coming together.

  “Grey!” she shouted, as her entire body tingled, warning her that she was about to tumble again.

  “Em,” he moaned, slamming into her one last time as he lost all control. There was an explosion, as her words flooded his mind, permanently becoming one of his fondest memories.

  Emma shook, he quaked, and they both floated in the bliss, struggling to get back to the surface. When they could finally think, she was trapped beneath him.

  When he lifted his head, his gray eyes shined with so much love and adoration. Emma had given him a gift, and in exchange, it helped him forget the pain he was feeling.

  Now, there was only joy.

  “Wow, Greyson,” she said, grinning. “Who knew?”

  He laughed, bringing his mouth down to hers to softly kiss her on the lips. “I knew. My kitten is a hellion in bed.”

  She snorted. “Can you let me out, now?” she asked.

  If he could keep her trapped there all night, he absolutely would. The idea of having his babe bound and beneath him drove him wild.

  Yeah, it definitely made the caveman come out.