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

  There was a surge of excitement as Emma pulled him down to place cool kisses across his overheating flesh.

  “Emma,” he whispered, enjoying her wanton exploration of his body. The pace she set was maddening.

  Staring up into the liquid-y silver of his eyes, her heart fluttered. “You’re over dressed,” she stated, her hands finding the button on his jeans and in one quick movement flicked it open.

  Watching the woman beneath him, his arms quivered in excitement as he held himself braced above her.

  Emma could feel what the zipper was holding back. Croft was painfully erect again and waiting for her. “Stand up for me, Grey,” she whispered, and immediately he moved, giving her exactly what she wanted. By sitting on the edge of the bed, she was perched at eye level with what was waiting for her.

  “Honey,” he hissed, as she tugged his jeans and boxers down until he sprung free.

  She stroked her fingers across him, taking in how perfect he felt against her palm. When she enclosed her fingers around him, he practically shook.

  “Emma,” he muttered, as she ran her hand up and down the length of him, teasing and making him crazy.

  She grinned wickedly. “I think you may be dessert, Grey.” Without any more warning, she took him in her mouth.

  “Oh God!” he moaned, as she began her worshipping. His whole body came alive as he finally had the strength to open his eyes. The combination of watching and feeling her oral assault was pushing him closer to the edge. “Honey,” he gasped when she tormented him with the tip of her tongue. “I’m an old man, have mercy,” he begged, only to have her be even more wicked.

  Emma loved hearing his moans and pleading. It pushed her on as she thrived on the heat filling her. The cold was forced back and with it went fear, trepidation, and pain. These minutes with him offered what nothing else in life could.

  Solace.

  He was so damn close that if he didn’t get her to stop, he’d be done. Croft pulled free of her lips and stared down at her. “Honey, I need you,” he whispered.

  “Take me, Grey,” she answered, being lifted back into his arms and placed gently on her bed. When he joined her, Croft ran his lips over her shoulder. “Just lay there and let me taste you. I’m dying to devour you right now. It’s going to be a fight to not just dive into you.”

  Emma reveled in the feel of his hands, lips, and body gliding across all of her. It teased, excited, and made her crazy all at once.

  Greyson found her mouth again and began to kiss her with the heat that was burning inside of him. He couldn’t stop the desire that was swamping him. Deepening the kiss, he began exploring, lost in the sensation. When a soft moan escaped from her lips, it almost made him lose his control. Forcing himself to pull away from her mouth, he travelled lower until he found her breasts. He delicately caressed one with his hand, and then teasing it with the tip of his tongue.

  Emma reacted like no woman he’d ever been with before. Her hands slid into his hair in sheer ecstasy, and his name tumbled from her lips.

  The man was making her crazy with taking his time. There was no urgency, just the slow easy pace he’d set to make her insane. When he moved to her other breast to repeat his torturously slow ministrations, she quaked in need.

  “You feel amazing,” Croft admitted, as he continued to slide his hand lower until he found his long sought prize. As he was exploring, she gasped.

  “Grey, oh my God!”

  He grinned wickedly as he leaned down to kiss her on that most sensitive of spots, offering her as much pleasure as possible.

  “Grey, please!” she begged, but he continued to torture her with his tongue, making slow lazy circles. Damn him and his infinite amount of patience in bed.

  “Let yourself go, Emma. I have all night to tease and taste you,” he whispered, waiting for her to answer. As if to prove a point, he began exploring with his hands, urging more from her body. When he found the right spot, hidden deep within her with his fingertips, she begged before breaking apart.

  Emma couldn’t catch her breath, as the eruption was fast and explosive. “Grey!” She dug her nails into his shoulders and tumbled over the edge. When she opened her eyes, she saw him sitting between her legs waiting for her to resurface. She was still hungry for him and wanted more. “I need you, Grey” And she probably always would. The man chased the shadows away.

  “Thank God, because I feel like I’m going to burst into flames unless I get inside you right now.” He pulled her toward him and lifted her hips. “I swear I’ll be gentle.”

  She glanced down at the size of him and sucked in her breath. It didn’t intimidate her. It just made her want him even more.

  He moved closer and prepared for what he was sure would be nirvana. “This is going to feel amazing, honey,” he whispered, reassuringly. Leaning forward, he slid into her body in one smooth stroke. He sheathed himself completely, and in that moment found the other half of him, which he once believed had been lost forever.

  In that instant, there was no doubt in his mind.

  Greyson Croft had fallen in love.

  “Oh my God,” she moaned, feeling so deliciously full. Staring up at him, Emma wanted it to never end.

  “It’s ok, honey,” he reassured, needing a moment himself to regain his control. She was gripping him and trying to lure him over the edge already. “You were made for me, Emma. We’re a matched set. Everything about this is perfect.”

  She heard the words, but couldn’t get past the feeling of him buried deep in her body. This was absolute heaven.

  Croft began moving slowly, setting the pace, and finally finding his rhythm as he picked up the speed.

  “So good, honey,” he whispered, beads of perspiration on his brow as he fought the need to explode. In the back of his mind, he was ordering himself to wait for her, giving Emma as much pleasure as possible.

  As she met him, thrust for thrust, arching her hips to meet him, control was fraying. Without warning, she began to break apart again as her hand slipped off the sweat glistening on his arm. “Grey, I can’t hold on any longer.”

  Her moans tore at his control. “It’s okay, honey, fall. I’m right behind you.”

  The colors shattered around her as she shouted his name, trusting he’d be right behind her in the bliss. Then she heard him call for her, as everything went silent, and she floated in the pleasure.

  Croft recovered first, rolling off her body before pulling her with him. When she curled around him and cuddled, his heart thumped louder in his chest.

  Emma drifted in the deliciousness of the moment. The familiar scent of cologne drew her back to the surface. Already, she was wrapped around the man.

  “Mmmm, are you okay, Em?” Croft finally got out.

  She began giggling. “Yes, Grey, I feel really good. How about you?”

  He thought about it as her leg was draped across his and her hand was running through his chest hair. Without missing another second, he leaned over and kissed her hard on the mouth. Pulling away, he grinned at her wickedly. “I’ve never felt better in my entire life.”

  Emma enjoyed another kiss from him, and as his body began stirring again, she gasped as he whispered in her ear what he wanted next.

  “Seriously?” she said, staring at him with shock in her eyes. “I thought you were an old man,” she teased as she began to giggle while his hands wandered. “I have to say, you’re pretty spry for an old geezer.”

  Croft laughed and bit her on the shoulder. “I’m a big man, Emma. I don’t just have dessert once. Sometimes, I need it twice, and I can’t wait to have more. I didn’t quite get enough to satisfy me.”

  There’d never be enough, and he knew it.

  “Grey!” She tried to sound shocked and horrified, but her laughter gave it away. “We just finished. You can’t possibly need more.”

  “Need, yes, and want…definitely.” With that, he covered her protesting mouth with his and slid into her quickly, giving her no more warning.


  She gasped at the unexpected invasion, and then she moaned when he brought his mouth to her one nipple and teased it into a tight peak.

  “Oh, Grey,” she whispered, giving in to the man. This time it was desperately fast. Emma held on to for the ride as he repeatedly drove into her, bringing her to a fast climax.

  “God, honey! I just want more and more,” he admitted. With one last thrust, they both shattered into the pleasure.

  She wrapped around him, knowing that it wasn’t only a part of her heart lost to this man, but all of it. Emma was madly in love and hopelessly lost to anyone but him. Somehow, he snuck past her defenses and wiggled his way into her heart.

  Now, she had to worry about when he walked away.

  If it would kill her or not.

  * * *

  He sat in the darkness outside her cabin, stalking the sheriff. When he stared in the window, he saw Emma and the FBI agent copulating. It repulsed and angered him.

  She was another worthless whore. Now, she needed to suffer for her vile ways. All he needed was to wait until they both fell asleep, and then he’d sneak quietly into her sanctuary and terrorize her.

  If she thought sharing her body with an FBI agent would keep her safe and protected, she was wrong. Nothing would keep her guarded from what was coming.

  Nothing.

  His goal would be to make her scream.

  It wouldn’t shock him when she got knocked up like the last one. Women were incredibly stupid and shouldn’t be left to their own devices. They had but one purpose, and after they lost that, they needed to be discarded.

  As he made his way around the cabin to the back patio door, he knew they’d never hear him. They were too busy rolling around naked in bed, lost in their own lust. His plan was to pop the lock, but when he found she’d left the door open, he shook his head.

  Who did things like that with a killer running loose?

  There was only one answer to that question – a very stupid woman.

  Sliding the door open, wide enough to slip into the house, he headed to her kitchen to leave her a sign that he’d been there waiting for her. Opening the refrigerator, he grabbed the milk container and scribbled a few words.

  In the morning, she’d be scared shitless, and the FBI agent would have to live with knowing that he couldn’t keep her safe. It would be priceless.

  He closed the door and crept back out the way he came in, making no sounds at all. The biggest disappointment would be that he wouldn’t be there to hear her scream

  What a pity.

  To add insult to injury to the FBI agent, he did what the man forgot to do. He flicked the lock closed to secure the pretty sheriff away until another time.

  He disappeared into the shadows, humming a little tune. It was time to kill again. The need was building, and he was more than willing to rid Celestia of another whore.

  ~ Chapter Nine ~

  Friday Dawn

  Emma woke first, finding herself facing a still sleeping man. He was still holding her hand close to his heart. She took the time to observe his body in the morning light. All night they curled together after moments of frenzied lovemaking, but this was the first time she could simply observe, marvel, and openly gawk.

  Greyson Croft definitely took pride in his physique and obviously worked out. He was cut in places most forty-year-old men weren’t, and there wasn’t anything on his body moving towards paunch or flab. The man was ripped and sexy as sin. Her eyes slid lower, taking in some scars criss-crossing his shoulders and chest. Lovingly, she stroked them with her fingers. When it didn’t disturb him, she appreciatively enjoyed the view of him to where the sheet lay, covering his lower body.

  That part of him she’d had plenty of time to get to know, all night long. Reaching out, she ran her fingertips alongside his jaw, across stubble and to his chin. The light caress woke him immediately. His eyes flashed open and a smile slid sexily across his handsome face.

  “Good morning, honey,” he crooned, leaning over to kiss her. “Did you sleep well?” Croft remained on his elbow, gazing down at her. She was all rumpled, warm, and he knew what he wanted to do to wake them both up.

  Holy shit!

  Emma was going to be the death of him. There hadn’t been a woman yet that had made him want like this continually. At his age, he should be exhausted and begging for mercy. Instead, he was very aware of her beside him.

  “Croft, you’re a wild man,” she stated unequivocally.

  He shook his head. “Promise me you won’t call me by my last name when we’re in bed, Emma, it’s too impersonal. What happened between us can never be called that.”

  “Okay, Grey,” she whispered, getting on her knees and straddling his body.

  The silver of his eyes went molten as he stared at her with lust and anticipation. When she ran her hands over his chest, he fought to stifle a moan.

  It was her chance to bolt.

  Emma was off his body in seconds and safely out of his reach “I’m going to take a shower,” she said grinning. Emma blew him a kiss and dodged a pillow he threw at her in retaliation. “You throw like a girl,” she said, as she ran for it.

  Croft grinned like an idiot as he watched her leave. He’d give her a few minutes to have her head start. He was a man and wasn’t going to let his tasty little morsel of a woman escape that easily.

  It was time to teach her a waterlogged lesson.

  Emma was safely in the shower, and standing under the hot spray when a hand snaked out and grabbed her. “Greyson! You just scared the hell out of me,” she scolded, but turned to him, placing her arms around his neck. Lips met lips as she kissed him sweetly. Emma then rubbed the side of her face against the scruff of his, almost like a big warm cat would mark its territory.

  “You feel good in the morning,” he whispered, sliding his hands down the length of her back to curve of her bottom. “A man could get used to waking up with a woman in the shower with him.” When her whole body tensed, he ignored it, and continued rubbing and stroking her. Come hell or high water, he’d make her adjust to the idea of them. Croft couldn’t give her up before they’d made love, but now… he would die to keep her in his life. His mind was already made up and there was no way he’d let this be a work related fling or multiple one-night stand.

  He wanted so much more.

  She stared up at him defiantly. “Agent Croft, if you want breakfast, then we’ll have to get out of this shower soon. We can’t be late for work.”

  Greyson considered his options. “What do I get for breakfast if I find something to occupy our time?” he inquired.

  “You’ll get plain old boring cereal.”

  “And if I let go of you right now?”

  Emma ran her fingers over his chest as she contemplated the options. “If we get out right now, you get blueberry pancakes with warm syrup, coffee, and fresh OJ.”

  So, it came down to food or sex with his little vixen.

  That was a definite no brainer.

  “Hell, I never was much for breakfast anyway.” With that, he pushed her back against the wall of the shower and attacked.

  The day old growth tickled her neck, making her go loose under his magic fingers. He caught her off guard and lifted her up against the wall.

  “Wrap your legs around me,” he demanded gruffly.

  She did what he ordered, enjoying the sheer strength of the man. As he braced her against the wall in that position, he had full access to her. Emma could feel the nudge just before he prepared to drive himself into her. Her eyes focused on his face and the delicious pleasure they both were about to enjoy.

  “Grey,” she gasped, staring down at her hands on his chest as she tried desperately to catch her breath.

  “No! Look at me!” he demanded, as he began moving into her.

  Emma stared into the silver pools, and her heart skipped in her chest at what she found there. They were so filled with emotion that it threatened to overwhelm her.

  Croft loved the vivid
color of her eyes. They sparkled and shined like a beautiful pair of emeralds. Something about this woman tripped him up and made him want to crawl over broken glass to be near her.

  Who would have thought he’d be a victim of love at first sight when he never believed it to exist?

  He pushed it all aside and solely focused on her. When he heard the ragged intake of her breath, and his name on her lips, he knew she was close.

  “Grey,” she whispered, shattering apart as he continued the even glide in and out of her body. He watched her fall, and then took her mouth with his until she kissed him over the edge into his own bliss.

  It took him a few minutes to clear his head of the woman wrapped around the front of him. As she slid her long legs off his hips, he decided that what they shared was the best twenty-four hours of his life.

  He could now die a happy man.

  Emma was trying to steady her breath and refocus on the situation. She was enthralled with how this man made her feel. She couldn’t believe the way he caused her blood to boil and turned her molten at his touch. Lifting her eyes to his, he smiled at her and brushed a wet tendril of her hair from her cheek. The tenderness undid her as the love swamped her. It was then followed by the inevitable truth.

  He’d leave her when it was all over.

  What choice would he have?

  If she were alone in the shower, Emma would have broken down and cried. Turning away from him, she washed her hair, trying to remain as small as possible in the corner. Emma was terrified that her emotions would break free, and she’d do something stupid like beg him to stay and love her for the rest of their lives.

  “Honey, what’s wrong?” he asked, reaching for her. He immediately sensed the change in her demeanor.

  “Nothing, Greyson,” she answered, lying to him. What was she going to do? She was in love with him, and he’d eventually be walking out of her life.

  He didn’t believe a word she said. Emma was pulling away from him for some reason. Maybe she regretted sleeping with him.