Celestia is Falling (A Croft & Croft Romance Adventure Book 1) Read online

  “I’d love to know,” she answered, taking the wine from him and taking a sip.

  “I have very few vegetarian culinary skills with the exception of Italian.” Croft ran a fingertip down her cheek.

  Emma stared up into his eyes. Here the man was trying so damn hard to make it a better night for her. She appreciated the time he was putting into it. While she sat in her room sulking, she realized what she was throwing away by being miserable. Out in her kitchen was a sexy man cooking for her. That alone would cheer any woman up, and she refused to let the killer take this night from her. Greyson Croft was amazing, and she was going to be an active participant.

  “I love it,” she answered, taking another sip of the wine he handed her.

  There was a feeling of relief over his food choice. He couldn’t remember the last time he cooked for a woman or wanted to for that matter. “I’m glad. We’re having lasagna, garlic bread, and a salad. No meat.” He moved closer to her because he needed the contact. After tossing herself to the killer, he’d been a nervous wreck.

  “I can’t wait. It sounds delicious.”

  He thought about it. “You know what, suddenly I can’t wait either.” Croft grabbed the glass from her hand and put it on the counter. His eyes bore into her soul.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, as he walked back towards her.

  “We have thirty minutes until dinner’s ready. Why don’t we sit down?” With that, he swept her off her feet, and into his arms. Dropping down on the couch, he kept her on his lap.

  “Grey,” she whispered, as he held her firmly against him, refusing to let her free.

  “You smell amazing, Emma, honey,” he admitted, drinking her all in. “But then again, you always smell delicious.”

  “I’m glad you like the lavender.” She smiled, tracing her finger down his jaw line, feeling the stubble.

  “I don’t think ‘like’ covers it,” he admitted.

  She ran her hands down his chest, enjoying how strong his muscles felt beneath her fingers.

  “Emma, I have to kiss you. I have been trying to keep my hands off you all day, and if I don’t do it right now, I may explode.”

  She stared at him unblinkingly. “No, Grey. Let me kiss you,” she whispered, bringing her lips within millimeters of his. She could feel his breath stutter and then skip as he waited for what she was promising. Emma gently nibbled across his lower lip, teasing it with her teeth.

  The woman was simply undoing him. His heart stopped for a second, and he closed his eyes, allowing her to set the pace of the kiss. His body shook as he fought to give her the chance to be in control. What he wanted to do was take her into the bedroom and release the beast that was threatening to break free.

  Emma moved deeper into the kiss, enjoying herself. It was a hot tangle of lips and tongue as the man against her came alive at her touch. It made Emma want more and more of this amazing feeling. It was like being drunk and spinning out of control. God, she never wanted it to end.

  He freed her hair, burying his hands deep in the red and copper chaos. Greyson took the mingling of mouths even further as he staked his claim then and there. This shared moment wasn’t a simple dating kiss. It screamed of what he desired and needed from her. Kissing her wouldn’t ever be enough. Croft knew he could spend the next forty years locked to her lips and still be hungry for more.

  Emma moved from sitting in his lap to straddling it. Both of them moaned as she pressed herself against him. There was such freedom flying through her, she never wanted it to end. The minute the man touched her, everything in her past fell away.

  There was only him.

  There was peace.

  There was the blossoming of life.

  Emma wanted to weep with the realization that she’d be okay as long as she could stay like this for the rest of her existence.

  Croft continued to explore her mouth with an unquenchable thirst. His hands skimmed down her sides, past her hips, and to her bare thighs. There was silky skin gliding beneath his hands, and he was struggling to keep breathing.

  Emma tried to move closer, realizing there was no space left between them.

  Good God, there was a beautiful woman wriggling in his lap, and he was about ready to start tearing clothes off both of them at any second. Instead, he focused on the kiss and taking it even deeper, if that was possible. He was burning up and in complete hell, needing her to be naked in his arms.

  The powerful emotions and want threatened to take her under. This was complete heaven and ecstasy. This man was making her crazy. When his hands slid down her body to skim her legs, he left a trail of fire in their path. At the throbbing of his erection, bulging against his pants and her body, Emma decided to drive him even wilder by freeing some of the buttons on his shirt. Her desire overwhelmed, as she needed to feel him beneath her fingers. As her hands were sliding across his incredibly strong chest, there was an involuntary shudder from both of them.

  When she grazed his nipples and ran her nails lightly across his skin, he didn’t think he’d survive it all.

  “Grey,” she whispered, into his mouth as she dove hungrily back into the kiss.

  Holy shit! He’d never been consumed this way by any woman in his life. He held on, enjoying every damn second of it. As another moan was pulled from his lips, he rolled her back against the arm of the sofa, pinning her beneath him. He began dropping kisses on her throat and neck, slipping the straps of her dress from her body. He kissed the left one and worked his way across the crest of her breasts, caressing the right shoulder over the scar. When she flinched, he paused.

  Emma stared into his eyes and fought to relax. Greyson would never hurt her, and she knew it.

  The ghosts of horrors past flickered through her eyes briefly, and then were gone. Immediately, he dove back into her mouth, wanting to offer so much pleasure and keep her rooted in the present with him. Now, he had one mission. It was to keep her dwelling on him and only on him.

  Greyson began sliding his hands up her thighs, taking the silk dress with them. What he craved was to find the treasure hiding beneath. Just as his fingers were close to discovering the prize, the oven buzzer went off.

  She froze and so did he.

  He was hungry for Emma and didn’t care if the place burned down around him, but he thought back to Briggs’s words about feeding her and before he knew it, he was making the sacrifice.

  “Dinner is ready,” he offered, with his voice not quite back in control.

  “I guess it is,” came her reply. She was all flushed and breathing heavily. Five more minutes and they would have been completely naked.

  “Emma, this isn’t over. You need to be fed, and then so do I.” He let the words sit between them. Finally, he moved off her, and she could see exactly how much it cost him.

  “I don’t mind being dessert, Grey,” she answered, watching the need and lust flush across his features.

  “I’m glad we’re clear on that.” He would get a second chance with Emma tonight if it killed him. Reaching down, he pulled her lightly to her feet.

  She came off the sofa and had to brace herself against him with her hand. Emma ran her fingers, teasingly down his chest and gazed into his desire filled eyes.

  “You’re the devil, woman.” He took a step away from her and buttoned his shirt back up. “If I don’t get canonized for sainthood, I’ll be shocked,” he muttered.

  Emma was overheating and the giggles made an appearance. She stood there, covering her mouth and laughing.

  Croft growled at her, and then stalked to the buzzer to turn it off. In hopes of banking the burning fires, he chugged his entire glass of wine.

  It only made her laugh more. “Don’t drink mine! I’m just as hot and bothered as you are,” she admitted.

  He flashed her a wicked grin. “Good. I wouldn’t want to suffer alone.”

  Emma had to change the subject or they’d be naked on her kitchen floor. The idea held merit, and then she chided herself. “Do you want
to eat inside or on the patio?” she asked, picking up the dishes.

  “Let’s eat out there.” He never even realized that was an option, but the idea of Emma under the stars excited him, and the cool air might take the edge off his need.

  “It is hot in here.”

  He laughed. “You aren’t telling me anything I’m not aware of already, honey,” he answered, watching her predatorily. He bet her hair would burn like fire in the moonlight. He watched her tote all the various items out to the patio. First were the dishes, then the silverware, salad bowls, and crystal wine glasses. When she had finished her trips in and out, she stopped to help with the lasagna.

  “Want me to carry it outside?” she asked, pushing aside a stray hair by trying to blow it out the way.

  “I don’t want you to get burned, so I’ll take care of it. Here let me get that curl.” He pushed it out of the way and tucked it behind her ear, dropping a kiss to her lips. Then he picked up the lasagna as she led him to the table.

  “Is this okay, Grey?”

  “Wow, it’s pretty out here,” he said, taking in the white lights and tons of flowers. It reminded him of the tropics splattered with moonlight. He put the lasagna on the table and cut Emma a piece, serving her some salad.

  There was something innately sexy about a man who could cook and wasn’t afraid to do it for a woman.

  “You’re staring at me. What’s going on in your head?” he asked, nervously.

  “That a domesticated man is hot,” she answered honestly.

  “I’ll make you breakfast tomorrow too,” he offered, teasing her.

  Emma winked at him. When he sat down, she took a bite of the lasagna. “It’s very good, Grey,” she stated, eating some more. “I’m impressed.”

  “Not bad for a carnivore, hmm?” he added, tasting his too.

  She smiled at him sweetly. “I’m duly impressed by your culinary skills. Who taught you how to cook?” Emma inquired.

  “I guess my mom, the military, and my four ex-wives.”

  Emma started choking on her wine. “What?”

  Greyson began laughing. “I was kidding about the last part. I’ve never been married and for the record, I don’t have any kids either.”

  She joined in laughing, relieved he was only teasing. “Well, your mom did a really good job.”

  “So, how long have you been a vegetarian?” he asked, and then realized what he said. “I’m sorry, Emma. I didn’t think about that first.”

  “It’s fine, Grey. I’m used to the question.”

  He nodded as they ate on in silence. He thought he had really destroyed the mood for the evening until she broke the silence.

  “So, tell me about you.” she asked. “You already know everything about me.”

  “What would you like to know, honey?”

  She smiled “Where are you from? Do you have a huge family? Why the FBI? When’s your birthday? All those kinds of things.” She figured it was advisable to know that about a man before sleeping with him. There was no doubt she was going to be spending the night crawling all over him, especially after the episode on her couch. If that was the appetizer for the evening, Emma couldn’t wait for the rest of the man meal.

  “Well, I’m forty-one and my birthday is December first. I’m from Ohio originally, but I went to college right here in Pennsylvania. When I graduated, I joined the army to see the world. A couple of tours later, I retired because I was tired of being shot at daily. Ironically, I then decided to work for the FBI and use my talents there. Some days I get shot at more and sometimes less,” he said laughing. “I have two sisters and a brother. Anything else?” he added teasing her a bit.

  “So, your mother really taught you to cook? Because you don’t scream mom’s kitchen helper.”

  He laughed. “My mom’s recipes and years of being a bachelor caused the necessity to learn.” He looked up. “A man has to eat, and he can’t depend on a woman to do it for him if there isn’t one around.” Greyson watched her smile, putting down her fork and reaching for her wine. She leaned back and took a sip.

  “No women, huh?”

  Croft shook his head. “I’ve had dates and girlfriends, but I’ve been married to my job for the last ten years. Girls like men who don’t travel or aren’t missing for Valentine’s Day. There’s a lot of killing around February fourteenth--you’d be surprised,” he teased to cover the loneliness.

  “I used to be married to my job, but we had an ugly breakup, and I’m still not over it,” she joked back, eating more salad. “I’m still paying that bitch alimony too.”

  Croft laughed at her easy facetiousness. “That was a good one. How about you share some information on you now too?”

  Emma pondered it. “I think you know pretty much all about me, but I’ll share whatever you ask.”

  “When’s your birthday?” he asked.

  “I’ll be thirty-six on September fifteenth.”

  Greyson looked down at his watch. “You’re birthday is soon.”

  “I don’t celebrate them anymore,” she said, shrugging her shoulders non-chalantly.

  “Most women over twenty-nine don’t,” he laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “Although, you don’t look your age, so I don’t think you shouldn’t celebrate.”

  “On mine and Gage’s birthday, we would make dinner for each other. That’s what I was doing at his house that night.”

  Croft closed his eyes, knowing he just did it again. It was like walking through a minefield, and he’d blown up twice already.

  “It’s not so much the age thing, but the fact I don’t have anyone to celebrate them with. Birthdays should be special and spent with family or someone you love.”

  The pain in that statement ripped right through him. She was truly alone, and she knew it. The strength that had to take was staggering.

  Emma could see the change in his demeanor, by the look on his face. “Did I say something wrong?”

  He dropped his fork onto the table in frustration. “I’m sorry, Emma. I just can’t figure out how to navigate through this. I‘m afraid everything I’m going to say is going to hurt you.” He stared down at his hands wishing for a manual to follow. He sucked at the woman thing and this was his proof.

  Greyson heard the chair slide out and glanced up to see her walk towards him. She put out her hand offering him the connection to her. He reached out to take her hand, and she pulled him up next to her and walked him over the edge of the patio.

  “We need to talk,” she said, softly.

  He was hoping he didn’t have to do the leading because he wasn’t sure he could pull it off.

  Emma led him to the swing and pulled him down beside her. “I don’t want to start anything with you if you’re going to be this tied up in knots over my past.”

  Croft could feel his heart skip in his chest. Suddenly, it occurred this wouldn’t be a good discussion.

  “What happened to me is one thing, but what is building now between us is a completely different story, Grey. I need to be with someone who sees me now, not then.” She ran her fingers over the knuckles on their joined hands. “Anything you say or do isn’t going to bring my brother back.”

  “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  Emma looked into his eyes and could see the emotion. “Then don’t hurt me from here on out, but you aren’t paying penance for my past.”

  He nodded.

  “Can I be honest?” she asked, waiting for his answer.

  “Yes.”

  She decided to let him see what was building in her heart for him. Just a glimpse until she, too, was sure. “I’ve never been more attracted to anyone in my life. When I’m with you, I don’t think about the past until you bring it up.”

  It was clear what she was saying.

  “Don’t dwell on it, and I won’t either. Focus on us, and we can go from there.”

  He leaned down and lightly kissed her.

  “You're not making a mess of tonight. I’m having a good time with
you. I think you’re smart, sexy, and an amazing man.”

  In that moment, he was having a hard time putting his thoughts together. The woman beside him wanted him, was attracted to him, and needed him. This was like the one shot at a miracle he’d get in life, and he knew it.

  “Want to go to bed and fool around, very Special Agent Croft?”

  Greyson was caught completely off guard.

  “Now?” Every single neuron in his body began firing all at once at the offer.

  “I don’t think I can go another day without just being with you,” she said, truthfully. “You’re very sexy and distracting.”

  Emma was offering him everything he wanted, without the fear of screwing it up. It was that minute that he realized that he would do anything for this woman. He wanted her always reaching for him. He only wanted her in his life.

  “Always,” he whispered, lifting her from her feet and carrying her in from the moonlight. Once inside the house, he slid the patio door closed and allowed his lips to begin leaving a trail of kisses across her throat and neck. In her room, Greyson lowered her to her feet beside the bed, staring down into her beautiful green eyes. “I need you, Emma,” he said, softly.

  She smiled up at him, knowing the feeling.

  He’d never wanted anyone more in his entire life.

  “Come to bed, Grey,” she whispered, as he helped her disrobe, by removing her dress. He stood staring down at her in the pale moonlight shining in her windows, and was captivated by what he saw. She was lean and strong and had long lines that dipped into gentle curves. Leaning down, Croft slipped her panties down her thighs. The sight of her completely naked was making him hungry all over again.

  When he stood in front of her, Emma slid her hands across his chest, enjoying the curves and bulges of every muscle. She stopped at the buttons and slowly, one by one, began to undo them. When she had his shirt open, she slid her palms across his heated flesh from the center of his chest to his shoulders.

  Her fingers explored, touched, and discovered as he placed her in the center of her bed. If possible, Greyson’s heart pounded more.