Emma didn't know why she didn't consider that. Honestly, she must not have been thinking straight, or she would have used cash. Of course, he’d use all the FBI resources to hunt her down.
It occurred to him that his wife looked broken and miserable. She was sitting in the center of the bed, looking so fragile and vulnerable. He wanted to rush to her and cradle her against his body.
But he knew he couldn’t.
“I have nothing to say to you,” she said angrily. “Go away, Greyson.”
The words hurt, and if she was trying to pay him back, it worked. They slashed at his heart and cut him to the deepest part of his soul, showing him how she must have felt when he spoke them to her. “No. I’m not leaving without my wife.” He stood his ground, ready to take anything she threw at him.
She stared at him.
“You want to fight, then let’s fight. I shouldn’t have told you to go away. I was wrong, but you shouldn’t have lied to me. We both crossed a line today. We’re hashing this out, or we’re going to stay up all night mad at each other. I’m implementing a new rule. We don’t go to bed angry.”
Now, she was seething. “Do you hear yourself?” she asked, standing up to face him. “You're implementing a new rule. You’re not leaving. When do I get a choice, Greyson? When?”
“You were wrong to lie, and I was wrong to hurt you.”
It was the last ounce of bossiness she could take. Generally, her control was spectacular, but this man was able to cut it to pieces so damn fast. “I lied? Did you ever once sit there and ask yourself why I did it?”
He hadn’t. “No.”
“I lied to stop your testosterone fueled stupidity. You would have stormed after Laden and kicked the shit out of him. You would have beaten him into a bloody pulp. We both know you’re bigger, meaner, and tougher. The man didn't have a snowball’s chance in hell.”
He shrugged. That was exactly what he planned on doing, and he didn't think he needed to make excuses for it. “He put his hands on my wife. There’s a code among men about shit like that.”
“Then what?” She stared at him wondering if the controlled director thought about what happened after the fact, when the fallout occurred.
Before he could answer, she continued.
“Let me answer that for you. You would have lost your job, or we wouldn’t be able to work together ever again. Quite possibly, I’d have to bail you out of jail and figure out how we’re going to pay for our condo on my salary.”
He stared at her, unsure what to do with her anger. It was obvious she’d been dwelling on the situation a great deal.
“I have to work with those people every day. As for me lying to start this all off, you did something worse. You went behind my back and threatened Captain Ford, didn't you?”
Now, it came down to his own rule of not lying.
Damn it!
She caught him in his own web.
“Yes, I did.”
“So, you made me a target of that detective’s hate, all because you had to be the bigger, stronger caveman. I didn't start all this, Greyson, you did. I lied. I’ll admit it, but I did it to stop this whole mess from exploding and taking us both down.”
Okay, she had him there. He did go behind her back and threaten to kill her boss. He did also inadvertently point the detective at her.
Yeah, this was all his doing.
“I was on clean up duty for your anger.”
Hell! Now, it was even worse, because he’d emotionally kicked the shit out of the woman he loved for no reason whatsoever. There could be no blame, since he’d backed her into a corner and gave Emma no choice in the matter.
“If you never went into Ford’s office, I wouldn’t have been forced to choose between my husband and this mess. I promised you that I wouldn’t ever lie, no matter what, but I never thought you’d be sneaky, underhanded, and manipulative before I made that damn promise. The minute you went behind my back, all bets were off. You crossed the line way before I ever did.”
“I was protecting you. You’re my wife and this is my job.”
She wanted to scream. Yeah, there were days his Neanderthal ways were sexy, but today wasn’t one of them. It was frustrating and making her angry as hell. “I’m not property, Greyson. I’m your equal partner. Not once did you think I could handle the situation on my own. You don’t think I’m smart or good enough at playing the game to work it all out. That shows that you have zero confidence in me!”
He stared at her. She made a valid point.
“Since you can’t believe in me, why be married?” Now, she threw the truth at him. “If you can’t trust your wife, why have one?”
It cut at his heart. One, because everything she said was absolutely true and secondly, he really believed he’d lost her. Emma wasn’t going to take him back. On the way over there, he’d had hope it was fixable. Now, it seemed out of his reach. He was a drowning man who was struggling to get to solid ground.
“I won’t be treated like this. You ignored me and when I tried to touch you, you pulled away. How would you feel if I did that to you, Greyson? What would it do to your heart if I moved away from you and didn't love you enough to swallow my pride and take one for our team?”
“It would hurt.”
“It does hurt. It’s demoralizing to have someone you love do that to you.” Emma’s eyes filled with tears.
He moved towards her, only to have her take a step back. Yeah, it did hurt. It was brutal. “I’m sorry. Tell me how to fix this, Emma and I will, even if it takes the next hundred years.”
She shook her head. “Go away, Greyson. The damage is done.” Emma knew he wouldn’t leave, so she did. Going into the bathroom, she slammed the door and locked it. Sitting on the floor, she let the tears fall, knowing that what they had was amazing when it worked, but was crushing when it didn't.
There was a little rustle as a note was slid underneath the door on hotel stationary.
I’m sorry.
Emma ran her fingers over the words. God, so was she. All she wanted was her husband back. There wasn’t anything they couldn’t do together, but apart she was lost.
There was another sound.
I’m the last caveman in the world. They were all idiots, and that’s why they’re extinct.
It was hard not to smile at that. She loved him so much that her heart ached.
More paper slid beneath the crack.
I didn't mean to hurt you. I’d rather bleed than ever make you sad.
Emma knew he was telling the truth. She held the notes in her hand and appreciated how hard he was trying to fix it.
Before long, another paper appeared.
Please forgive me. I was wrong.
Already, she was doing just that. There were little cracks appearing in her anger as her husband wiggled his way back into her heart.
At the next paper, she found herself smiling.
Mr. Croft needs a Mrs. Croft. Don’t make me live without you. I can’t face tomorrow alone.
Emma loved being his wife. There was something to be said about a man who was always so focused on you that he never left you alone in life.
I’ll die loving you, Emma. You’re my soul mate.
This time, she offered something back. Grabbing her makeup bag, she pulled out her lipstick and with it drew a red heart. She slid it under the door and waited for his reply.
Finally, it arrived.
Don’t stop loving me. You’re all I have. No other woman understands me or could tolerate a Neanderthal. I’m old school, outdated, and no one gets me but you. Don’t throw me away.
Her heart skipped.
Unlocking the door, she pulled it open to find him standing there. His face was filled with so much pain over the hurt he caused, that it squeezed her heart in her chest.
Emma let love lead as she rebuilt the broken bridge back to him. “I love you, Grey. I’ll never stop loving you, and that’s a promise I’ll never break.”
He moved toward
s her, so overwhelmed with emotion, that he could barely contain it. Pulling her against his body, he brought his lips down to hers. The kiss they shared was filled with so much love, and it brought more tears to both of their eyes.
Slowly, Emma fell into him as she enjoyed the way he wrapped himself around her. His big hand was braced at the back of her neck, holding her to his lips. He was taking everything he needed to feel alive again and giving her the same in return.
“Grey,” she murmured against his mouth as his hand began wandering beneath the t-shirt she wore.
“I want to give you tonight and show you what lives in me, Emma.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out her wedding rings and held them where she could see them. “It’s your choice to take me back or let me fall away in this world. You control if I live or die. My heart is yours to protect or destroy. I forced this decision, and now I need to wait for your answer and accept it.”
Emma stared up into his eyes. “I want you to be in my life forever.”
He was overwhelmed at the second chance. Slipping her rings onto her finger, he reached down to pull his shirt from her body. There was something sexy about his woman wearing his things. It turned him on even more to find her wearing a little pair of panties beneath and nothing else.
“I’m going to make love to my wife,” he whispered, running his lips across one shoulder and then the other. When he paused, it was only to lift her into his arms and place her down on the bed.
“Your wife can’t wait,” she replied, watching him slowly strip out of his clothes. The silver in his eyes went molten as emotion showed there for her. As he pulled his t-shirt off his body, Emma appreciatively took in every line and indentation. “Mr. Croft is a very sexy man,” she admitted.
He grinned wickedly, slowly teasing her as he flicked the button open on his jeans.
Emma remembered the first time she’d seen him naked, and every time after it was still enthralling. There was a little splattering of chest hair leading downward past his belly button to treasures unseen by anyone but her anymore.
As he dropped his zipper, Emma could feel her body reacting to him. She was all warm and tingly and wanted his hands all over her. Watching her sexy husband push them down his hips to free himself, made her breathless.
Her husband was stunning naked.
“What are you thinking about, Mrs. Croft?” he asked, crawling towards her.
“How much I want to feel you against me,” she answered and was rewarded with just that. Again, she sought him out and the joining of lips that bound them together was filled with everything a kiss should be.
Someone moaned.
Fingers traced and explored.
Emma rubbed against him, practically wanting to purr in ecstasy as his hands sought to drive her to madness. Her husband knew every spot and was hitting them all tonight.
“I love the way you taste, Emma,” he whispered, running his lips lower, past her breasts, beyond her belly button and to the most delicious place of all.
With the quick intake of breath, he knew he hit the right spot.
“Grey,” she moaned and arched as he teased and tormented her body unmercifully. Her hands slid into his wealth of hair, and held him to her as he continued his mission to tear apart anything he’d built in anger.
She shook, knowing it was coming. “Babe,” she murmured as he nipped her lightly and pushed her off the edge into sheer heaven. The colors cascaded and pleasure wrapped around her. Before she could regain the ability to think, Greyson was already tormenting her as he lured her back into the heat they were sharing.
While lips and tongue plundered, his hands wandered across her silky soft flesh. The way he made her feel when she was beneath him was reminiscent of heaven and hell. It was bliss and wickedness all rolled into one, much like her husband.
Emma was lost.
If there could be only one sin, it should be his woman. Something this amazing had to be bad for you. As he shoved her off one more time, his own body shook with so much need. Everything in him begged to take and own, but instead he chose not to obey. Tonight, he’d give instead of demand. Tomorrow, the dominant man would find his way home, but for now, it was time to offer her anything she wanted.
It was all about Emma’s pleasure and nothing else.
Her hands gripped his hair as she shook. It was a sure sign his woman was close and with a flick of his tongue, Emma shattered apart beneath him once more.
Nothing in her life had ever felt this good. Emma would give it all up just to have this with him. Greyson was sliding up her body, giving her time to refocus on him. Leaning down to her ear, he nipped the lobe and teased it.
“Want to try something new,” he crooned, running fingers down her body.
“Yes,” she replied, wanting so much more from him. When he moved from her body, she watched him as the need continued to build. Her delicious man sat in the center of the bed, waiting for her to join him.
“Climb into my lap, honey,” he said, offering his hand to her.
Emma would have hung upside down by her toes from their balcony for Greyson.
He placed her above him and waited for her to slide him home. “I need you, Emma,” he whispered, watching the slow, torturous descent down his body.
As he filled her, she dropped her head back and enjoyed the feeling of him buried deep within her. Perfection was the only word she could think of to describe the moment. Before she knew what was happening, he began to lift her, and then allowed gravity to pull her back into place. Each slide down was quicker and struck the exact right spot time and time again.
He shook in want as she made breathless little gasps at the invasion of his body into hers. Each well placed stroke swallowed and gripped him.
“Oh, Grey,” she moaned as she was vibrating at his touch.
“So perfect, Emma,” he muttered as he loved the depth and feel of his woman wrapped around him. Yes, it was more work, but it was damn amazing.
With two more descents down his erection, he knew he wouldn’t last long. “Fall for me, honey,” he whispered, staring into her emerald eyes. They were filled with passion, and so much more. Greyson believed they mimicked everything that he too was feeling.
Emma could feel the oncoming rush rupture through her as her body broke apart. She tightened and quivered, luring him to the edge.
With one last drop, he exploded as he buried himself deep within his wife. She wrapped her arms around him, holding them together.
Both were breathing heavy as they floated back to awareness, pressed flesh to flesh.
Finally, Emma’s giggles broke the silence. “That was pretty damn amazing.”
“Yeah, I know,” he grinned smugly.
Emma went with his body as he laid back and placed her at his side. “You’re such a caveman.”
“I definitely am, but you love me like this and you know it.”
“Mmmmm hmmmmm,” was her reply as she nuzzled his neck, and then something occurred to her. “Grey? Can I ask you two questions?”
He was absolutely enjoying the peace and warmth of his naked wife against his body. “Yeah, honey?”
“Where did you find that little trick?” she asked, running her fingers through the chest hair.
“The internet.”
She began laughing. “Are you serious?” Emma asked, giggling even more over the thought of her husband doing research on new ways to have sex.
Croft pulled her even closer, just to breath in the scent of lavender that was all over her hair and body. “Yes. I found the online Kama Sutra. I’ve got a sexy younger wife, and I need to keep up with everything out there to keep her interested.”
Apparently, he wasn’t kidding and that was entertaining. “I don’t know why that makes me nervous,” Emma stated, snickering.
He grinned. “What’s your next question?”
The smug look on his face needed a readjustment. “Earlier you said something that was a little odd and has me concerned.”
“Yes?” Now, he looked down at her, unsure where she was heading with it.
“Why was there a gay man crying all over you?” Emma kept a straight face.
He started laughing, because he’d forgotten he’d said it during their fight at the condo. Rolling over, he pinned her beneath him. “We can talk about it later,” he answered, letting his fingers travel all over her body as if memorizing it.
“I’m pretty sure we should talk about you cuddling up with another man before we have sex again, Greyson Croft.”
He slid into her, already needing more of Emma.
“Grey!”
As he began moving, he whispered in her ear. “We’ll discuss it later, cave-babe.” Then, he increased the speed, driving into her body.
Emma was suddenly good with that, since she’d found herself easily distracted. “Okay, later.”
Greyson laughed, knowing he’d won this one.
“I love you, honey.”
“I love you too,” Emma replied, and she absolutely did.
Then again, who could blame her? She was the proud owner of the last known caveman.
* * *
They’d sat through two sets of Jazz and had way too many shots of something called ‘Voodoo nights’.
All the way home in the back of her mind, the little warning voice was going off, telling her to send him home. That what was coming was a disaster and she knew better.
Here Brynn was preparing to roll around in her bed with a man as she was daydreaming about someone else. Brynn was dwelling on the Briggs situation and that should be her warning.
Right then and there, she should have sent him packing back to his place, knowing that there was nothing but an oncoming disaster ahead.
There was time to stop it before it went too far. Now, it was still fixable and yet, what did she do?
Her libido took over and slapped a gag order on her brain.
Well hell! This was going to bite the big one.
Vegas is Dying (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 2) Page 23
