Hell Is Burning

by Morgan Kelley

She went to laugh, but she didn't have time.

  His hand came crashing down, cupped against her derrière. The sound was far louder than the actual strike but it still caught her off guard.

  She gasped.

  “One.”

  When his hand made contact once again, Emma squirmed in his lap. She wasn’t trying to escape. Oddly, she loved this. It didn't really hurt. It was having the exact opposite effect on her body.

  “Two.”

  Emma’s body heated. It looked like her husband was in a wild mood. He’d never spanked her before. In all honesty, Emma was enjoying every second of it. Greyson was being himself, and she couldn’t help but love everything about him.

  He was her soulmate.

  She was being obedient, but that didn't mean she couldn’t stir him up even more. Two Crofts could play that game.

  If he was hell bent on playing master, she’d drive him out of his mind with lust. When doing battle with a caveman, you had to know your prey.

  “I was very bad,” she whispered. “I deserve this.”

  His body tensed at the soft admission.

  “What did you do?”

  “I was thinking impure thoughts about my FBI partner today. When I had him pinned to the ground, I was picturing him naked.”

  Greyson wanted to smile, but he couldn’t. His lower body was in control, and it was driving the fantasy. He was helpless to fight it.

  He needed her in the worst way. With each taste of his tempting prize, he became more and more addicted.

  His hand came down again, this time landing smartly on her cheek. The sound reverberated through the room as she gasped in shock.

  “Three.”

  Her body went liquid with lust.

  “You shouldn’t think about anyone but your husband,” he demanded, as she wiggled her ass against the palm of his hand.

  “Or what?”

  His hand came down again, cupping her pink ass cheek.

  “Four.”

  “Greyson!”

  Oh, she was challenging him.

  Well, he could play this game with the best of them. His hand made contact once more, only this time harder.

  “Five.”

  Emma moaned as he slid her off his lap. She was all flushed, and the ‘C’ hung seductively between her breasts.

  While she wasn’t moving, he decided to take things into his own hands. Reaching toward the bed post, he pulled the leather strap from hiding to secure it around her wrist.

  She watched him with heat filled eyes. Green had never burned so hot before. It appeared his cave babe liked being manhandled.

  He was so damn glad.

  There was going to be many sexy romps in this room. He could already tell that it was time and money well spent.

  When one hand was secure, he followed up with the second one. He tightened it firmly, making sure she couldn’t escape.

  “You were bad, so now you get punished.”

  He stood, but didn't slide out of his pajama bottoms. For what he had planned, his lower anatomy wouldn’t be needed quite yet.

  Emma watched him, her body quivering with need. When he yanked her legs apart and took his place between them, Emma was already breathing heavy.

  “What are you going to do to me?” she asked.

  “I’m going to punish my woman. She was fantasizing about her partner, and that’s a dangerous thing. You’re my woman, and I’m the only man you should think about.”

  Emma closed her eyes as his words slid across her body like silk. All her nerve ending were on fire. She loved this little game.

  It was sexy as sin.

  “Dimitri was flirting with you, wasn’t he?”

  Her eyes popped open. “Grey.”

  “Answer me, Emma. As your husband, I have a right to know. He’s attracted to my wife, and I need to know where I stand.”

  She stared up into his eyes, wanting to reassure him that nothing would ever make her stray, but he wasn’t having it. Greyson wanted to hear the truth. He was battling invisible demons.

  At one time, she might have lied to spare his feelings, but that never ended well. Instead, Emma went with the truth.

  “Yes, he was flirting, but I wasn’t.”

  “You were a very bad kitten today. You should have told me when it happened.”

  “Greyson, you couldn’t possibly think…”

  She didn't get to finish. He lowered his mouth to the most sensitive part of her body, and with his tongue and teeth, he feasted. The second he made contact, the torment began.

  She begged.

  She pleaded.

  Emma shouted in release.

  Greyson made her suffer. At first, this was about seducing her, but he realized something.

  He had to be himself.

  Their hired security guy could flirt all he wanted. When it came down to it, she was his, and he needed to remind her of that. As she came again and again, a fine perspiration covering her body, Emma struggled not to shatter apart. From the look on his face, Greyson was pleased.

  Moving away from the vee of her legs, he stared down into her eyes.

  She looked spent.

  “More, kitten?”

  “Greyson,” she whispered. “He’s nothing. You’re my all.”

  He was well aware.

  He trusted his wife, but he still needed to make a point. Just because he knew his wife wouldn’t stray, didn't mean she shouldn’t be aware that he saw everything.

  Greyson was a man, and he knew what went on in a guy’s head. Standing, he tugged down his pajama bottoms.

  He was hard.

  Erect.

  Wild.

  “I’m not done, Emma,” he admitted. “I want you to scream my name. With each stroke of my dick, I want you to remember who owns you.” He flicked the ‘C’ hanging between her breasts. “You’re mine, Emma Croft. God help you, but you’re mine. From the second we kissed until our last breath, we’re going to remain tied together.”

  He lifted her hips, admiring the heels she still wore. When he nudged her with his already rock hard erection, she gasped.

  She knew what was coming.

  Greyson didn't give her warning.

  Instead, he stole what he craved most.

  With pounding thrusts, he tore her control to shreds. It didn't take long for her orgasm spent body to find itself being teased and tormented back to release.

  He was forcing her up and over. Then he was making her fall. Greyson was taking her control away, and she was helpless to stop him.

  Switching the angle, he hit that one spot.

  Emma shattered apart, but instead of falling with her, he pulled free of her body. As his sexy kitten lay there, arms bound to the posts of their bed, her body still shaking from the repeated assault, he wasn’t done.

  No.

  He needed more.

  Greyson demanded all.

  With his mouth, he again found her swollen clit, and again he tormented her as she begged for reprieve.

  Only, he didn't care.

  He wanted her to remember this. When other men came into his territory, she needed to remember who she belonged to. While he’d forever love and respect her, the simple truth remained.

  Emma was his property.

  Oh, he’d never hurt her, but he would fuck her silly.

  After all, a caveman was a caveman. She’d fed into that, and now there was a price to pay.

  As his mouth feasted, his fingers found her breasts. With rough hands, he tormented her over and over again. As she teetered on the edge, he shoved her over into the freefall.

  This time she did scream as her body bowed in ecstasy.

  Greyson was a patient man in bed. He could do this for hours.

  When she opened her eyes, she saw his hurt. She didn't flirt, but he’d still been wounded by it. There was no doubt that he was thinking about what had happened to Curtis.

  Instead of begging him to stop, she changed route. “More. I want all of you, Greyson.�
�

  His heart skipped.

  He wasn’t sure what he was waiting for, but this was perfect. His Emma knew him. She saw the shadows and knew how to chase them away.

  “I want you in me, Greyson,” she whispered. “I want to fall with the love of my life. He’s the only man I’ll ever love. He’s the one I crave.”

  He moved closer. Again, he slid home to find some peace.

  “Free me,” she begged. “I want to make love to my husband. Let me show you what lives in me.”

  When he yanked on the restraints, they came free. It was then he began moving, only to have her stop him.

  “I need to be on top. I need to show you what I feel for you, Greyson.”

  With that, he rolled, letting Emma have the power. She straddled his hips, keeping him fully buried in her body.

  When he was focused on her, she began moving, sliding his erection in and out of her body. She didn't give him a chance to catch his breath.

  Instead, Emma shared her heart. Lowering herself, she kissed him. When she pulled away, they were nose to nose as she continued to drive herself up and down his body.

  “You’re mine,” he whispered, as the chilly ‘C’ necklace slid across his body--a reminder of what they had.

  Her heart filled with love. “I’m more than that, Greyson. You’re the man who owns and masters my heart.”

  He shook at her words.

  His body wasn’t ready to hear those words. He’d never thought she’d say them to him. There was something so powerful there, that it staggered him.

  What started as a way to seduce her had become something more.

  “Claim me,” she whispered. “I’ll forever be yours,” Emma promised. “Make me yours until the end of time. I don’t want men to flirt. I only want you.”

  As the world around him imploded in, and then exploded out, Greyson Croft lost the battle.

  His kitten won.

  She would always win when it came to this. She held all the power in their relationship. He might be bigger, stronger, and the man, but she was his heart.

  Soul.

  Core.

  Slowly, he let the pleasure drift around him. It helped wash away the insecurity he’d been feeling when the elevator doors opened and Emma was staring up at Dimitri Gideon.

  He couldn’t help his fear.

  It was rooted in his heart from another time, and another woman. Now his wife had to pay for that until he was completely healed inside.

  “Mmmmm, that was so damn hot,” she muttered, running her lips across his throat and chest.

  “Emma.”

  She stopped him. “You don’t have to say a word. I get it. I know, Greyson, and I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

  “What? Why are you apologizing? Did something happen?”

  She kissed him on the lips.

  “Yes, something did happen, Grey. That’s why I’m sorry.”

  Worry clouded his eyes. They were now a storm cloud gray. “What happened?”

  “I allowed my husband to hurt, and that won’t ever happen again. He’s nothing compared to you. He’ll never even be a blip on my radar. You’re it. I wish I could give you something to heal your heart. I won’t cheat. I meant what I said. You own me, Grey. You have all of me.”

  He relaxed. “I love you.”

  Emma kissed him. “And I love you, my sexy caveman.”

  For a few second, she sat there still perched on his body. There was nothing like having her sexy husband beneath her.

  “It’s getting late, Emma. They’ll tear this place apart looking for us. Besides, I have really bad news.”

  She sat up. “What?”

  “My parents are coming here.”

  “When?”

  “Less than an hour.”

  She sighed. “So, you bring me to heaven, only to drop me right back into hell. That doesn’t sound fair at all.”

  Greyson was amused. “You’re my kitten. Go hop in the shower, and I’ll be right in. I have to make a call.”

  She rolled her tongue making a purring sound, only to have him wiggle his eyebrows. “Behave, Emma Croft, or I’m going to get you one hell of a collar.”

  She jumped off the bed, still in her heels. “Promises, promises. Make it a sparkly one, Mr. Croft. You know how diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” she teased, heading out. “You might need to get me a leash. I’m wild and out of control.”

  He wanted to laugh, but he was picturing something wicked in his head. It stole his voice.

  Yes, all of that could be arranged.

  At the door, she touched the wall.

  Then it hit her.

  “Uh, is this a panic room?” she asked, finally seeing the Steel-reinforced walls.

  He was amused. “Yes, so you better panic. Who knows what I’ll come up with in here?”

  “God. I can’t wait to find out. Do your worst, Mr. Croft. I can’t wait to see what you come up with.”

  This time, he did laugh.

  She had no idea what was bouncing around in his head.

  When Emma headed out, Greyson pulled out his phone. Making a call, he needed to find something. When the man on the other end answered, he was pleased.

  “It’s Greyson Croft. Remember that necklace I was looking at?” he asked.

  When the man did, he knew he was in luck.

  “I need it by tomorrow afternoon. Can you get it over here for me?”

  He waited for the man’s reply.

  “I appreciate it. Charge my account and bill me.”

  When he hung up, Greyson couldn’t help but feel a million times better. Tomorrow, his kitten would get her collar. Then the world would know what he already did.

  She was his.

  And only his.

  Chapter Twelve

  Friday Evening

  After her shower, the tour didn't end. There was still so much house to see, and Greyson’s brother joined them. After all, he’d handled all the details.

  As they checked out the main level, Emma was impressed with how hard Greyson had worked.

  Their home was gorgeous.

  It was so amazing that she never wanted to go back to Sky Villa, and that was saying a great deal since she loved the condo.

  Here, she could wander while she enjoyed the space. This house was going to be a great place to spend their downtime.

  It was heaven.

  “What do you think?” Dante asked, glancing down at his watch. It was obvious that he was nervous, and there were two reasons why.

  Reggie Croft.

  And Christopher Croft.

  They were coming.

  “You and Greyson did an amazing job,” Emma stated. Handing over control of their home had been a damn good thing. The men didn't miss a thing. From the patio outside Greyson’s office, to the marble bathrooms, not one detail was missed.

  “It was Greyson. He designed it to fit you, Em. I just made sure the construction crews stayed on track.”

  “Well, you both get perfect scores from me.” Emma went up on her toes to kiss Dante on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  Greyson dropped his arm around her shoulders. “You deserve this, baby. After what happened here…”

  She didn't want to think about it.

  It still hurt.

  It was still so raw in her heart, she still hadn’t opened the letter from Randall Mason. It sat in a box in their room upstairs. “When will the rest of our things be coming here?” she asked.

  Dante fielded this one.

  “Tomorrow. We have movers bringing in your clothes and personal items. Most of the furniture is slated to stay in the condo, including the piano.”

  She looked upset. “I love my piano,” Emma stated.

  Greyson lifted her chin. “Kitten, do you think I would forget that? There’s one here. We’ll have drinks there after dinner.”

  That helped her relax. “I guess we’ll have to christen that one too.”

  Dante made some gagging sound, and then
was slapped on the back of the head by his big brother.

  “Hey!”

  Greyson smiled. “The king plans on christening every room. So, keep that in mind.”

  Dante snorted. “I hear you. Stay out of my room. That one is Steele’s and mine.”

  Greyson didn't go there. Instead, he led Emma through the massive rooms. “Let’s check out the kitchen.”

  “Yes, I should start dinner if your parents are coming.”

  Dante glanced over at his brother, unsure what was going on. “You didn't tell her?”

  Emma looked back and forth between the two men. “What didn't he tell me?” she asked.

  “Um…Emma, you know I love you, right?”

  She stared at him. “Yes.”

  “Well, I don’t know how to say this,” he began, leading her into the kitchen.

  She looked around. It was huge, and it was also industrial. It wasn’t anything like she asked for, and that confused her. “Why is this like a restaurant kitchen? Where are the stools, the island, and the little pots of herbs? I know I asked for granite and a giant pot rack for all the copper pans I bought.”

  He knew it was time to break the bad news. Greyson had put this off, and for good reason. Emma wasn’t going to be happy.

  Before he could say anything, some man walked in wearing a white chef’s uniform. When he began speaking in French, Emma glared at her husband.

  “Oh, no… you didn't.”

  Dante took two big steps back. He knew what was going to happen because he warned his brother. They’d had this conversation, and he told Greyson not to do it.

  “We have a chef.”

  She stared at him. “Why would you do that, Grey?” she asked, a little bit hurt.

  “Because we like to eat.”

  Emma moved away from him. She was having a hard time letting this go. It upset her. She loved coming home from work to cook for him. It was part of their routine, and she would miss it.

  “Emma.” He knew she wasn’t happy, but he never thought he’d see that hurt in her eyes.

  Jesus!

  This was bad.

  “Greyson, you know how I feel about this.”

  “We needed a chef.”

  Apparently, she was done discussing it. As she turned on her heel to leave, both men stared.

  “Emma. Come here.”

  She stopped. Part of her wanted to ignore him, but she could hear the tone in his voice. Greyson was panicking. If she stormed away, it would escalate.