Consumed by Wrath: An FBI/Romance Thriller (An FBI/Romance Thriller ~ Book 8) (14 page)

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When his plane touched down, he was infinitely grateful to be one step closer to his family. Loading up his luggage, he laughed at how much he had packed. Most of it he planned on leaving there when he left.

Since Elizabeth and Ethan had a closet full of things, he wanted to make traveling there easier. If returning to Salem was going to be a habit, he wanted to make it as convenient as possible, especially if they were going to be toting kids along for the trip.

As he pull
ed the giant suitcases through the airport, he couldn’t wait to get there. In fact, it was a mad dash to the rental.

In his head, he was having visions of sweet kisses
from the woman he missed.

Before he knew it, he was driving through Salem. It
definitely was an incredibly cute town. It reminded him of all the pictures in calendars with happy families and white picket fences.

It was really quaint.

When he thought of Elizabeth and her childhood, he wasn’t surprised that this is where she grew up. One of the things that always attracted him to her was her southern charm and her ‘girl next door’ personality. Like Salem, she was wholesome and good.

Well, as wholesome as a woman who was in a relationship with two brothers could possibly be.
Or one who waded in the bowels of death for a living…

Following the directions, he navigated the twisting roads all the way back into the thick lush forest.
It astounded him how far out in the middle of nowhere that Elizabeth’s childhood home was.

Not that he didn't appreciate that.

As a Native, he would take the dense greenery any day, and he would be a happy camper. That was the only part of the Rez that still called to him.

Pulling up
the drive, he stared at the giant house that was lit up with warmth from the inside out. There was a giant wrap around porch, a friendly red door, and plenty of yard to run around in as a kid.

Well, Elizabeth definitely had a vastly different childhood than he or Ethan had. Callen couldn’t imagine this as his home. It was too…

Norman Rockewellian
.

It gave him pride deep down inside that their children would have a house like this to come visit after their parents were gone
and just a memory. One day, his grandchildren would stand here and feel happiness.

It gave him a peace of mind.

Parking the rental SUV, he hopped out and left the suitcase in the back. First things first, he needed to see his woman and make sure that his brother was on the path to healing, not implosion.

He raced up the stairs
, only to find the front door open and soft music emanating from the inside. Opening the screen, he yelled inside to his partners.

“We’re in the living room, Cal,”
Elizabeth called back, alerting him to their location.

Callen followed the music, and was busy taking in the colors and decorations in the room. Everything about this place screamed Elizabeth. It was warm, friendly
, and cozy. In fact, it reminded him of ‘Fort Blackhawk/Whitefox’.

Walking into the great room, he paused, caught completely off guard. This time it had nothing to do with the surroundings, but everything to do with the people in
the room.

On the couch
was a lounging Ethan. 

His hair was messed up and stood up in
spikey peaks. Gone was his shirt, and his jeans were unbuttoned and rested low against his hips. He also was barefoot.

Apparently, Salem relaxed him.

Cradled at his side, was Elizabeth. It was obvious what he had missed, because she was wearing Ethan’s missing shirt, and Callen suspected nothing else.

Ethan pointed to a bottle of wine on the table and grinned at his brother. “Welcome to our vacation from insanity,” he said, releasing Elizabeth, so
that she could greet him.

Callen stared at his brother. “Wow, you look…”

She snickered. Oh, she was well aware. When they returned home from grocery shopping, she had been repeatedly accosted by him all over the place. He was like a man on fire, and back to being himself.

“Yeah, I know,” he replied. He held up his fist to get a congratulatory bump from his brother. “If you want to scare the demons of a homicidal maniac away, hide in Salem, drink some wine
, and let your woman climb all over you.”

Callen stared at him. “Is he drunk?” he asked, in astonishment.

Elizabeth hugged Callen tight. “Maybe a little, but we’re celebrating.”

He stared down into her eyes and sought the an
swer. “What are you celebrating? Why is he smiling like the Cheshire cat, and can I join in?”

Ethan sat up and poured his brother a glass. They knew
that he’d be arriving shortly, and they wanted to break the good news. “Elizabeth is pregnant,” he replied, handing his brother the glass.

Callen was
caught off guard, but he still noticed a few significant things. First, the light had returned to his brother’s eyes. This meant he was healing and on his way back. Next, there was that Elizabeth didn't look as sad and broken as she did just a day ago, so, he could see why the merriment.

“This is worth celebrating,” he said, kissing her soundly. “I’m so damn happy for our family,” Callen stated.
“More importantly, I don’t have to wear protection anymore!”

That earned him a snicker and his own fist bump.

“Hallelujah! Blackhawk sperm has once again knocked our woman up!”

“Callen!” Elizabeth objected.

Blackhawk raised his glass in celebration. “Here’s to my crazy, mad, mating skills and her obvious fertility!”

They carried their wine glasses to the couch, and Elizabeth sat between them with her bottle of water.

“I missed you two so much,” Callen stated. “I’m glad we’re back together.”

They both agreed wholeheartedly. In fact, Ethan’s arm
was across on the back of the couch and resting on his brother’s shoulder and neck.

It reminded Callen of how it was before he was hurt. The entire change was remarkable.
This wasn’t what he expected when the plane landed. Don’t get him wrong, this was what he wanted and hoped for, but he didn't think it would be this soon.

“How are you doing, Ethan? Can I do anything for you?” Callen asked, want
ing to make sure his brother was okay.

Elizabeth interjected before Ethan could reply. “He doesn’t want us to be nice to him anymore.”

Blackhawk started laughing. “Uhhh, I didn't say that. I said I didn't need you both treating me like I was a broken or wounded child. Feel free to be nice all you want,” he replied, wiggling his eyebrows at her.

“So, he’
s free game,” she stated, trying to tickle him.

Callen stared o
penmouthed. He was surprised that Ethan was shirtless to begin with, but Elizabeth’s hands were all over his tattoos and scars.

Ethan noticed where his brother’s gaze was directed
, and he addressed it. “We can talk about it,” he stated.

Now, Callen was feeling bad for staring at the scars. He knew how it felt. After all, he had burn marks all over his arms, courtesy of his mother’s boyfriend.
“I’m sorry, Ethan. It’s just that…”

He didn't get to finish.

Ethan’s eyes locked onto Elizabeth’s and his gaze never wavered. “Don’t be, because I’m not. I’ve earned these scars, and they’re who I am now. I may not be back one hundred percent, but I’m not ashamed of them.”

Elizabeth stroked his cheek.

“They’re kind of bad ass,” he replied, staring down at them.

“I agree,” Elizabeth added. “Plus, they’re a reminder of something very important.”

Both men stared at her and waited, and in true Lyzee form, she threw out some humor. “They remind me that you both have gotten your asses abducted and had to be rescued by a babe. That has to be embarrassing for both of you big, strong men!”

The brothers
started laughing and weren’t surprised.

“Lyzee, you were taken too,” Callen said, after the laughter stopped.

“Yeah, but I escaped. You had to be rescued. There is a big difference. Oh yeah, and I was pregnant. Score one for pregnant women everywhere. My men are crazy magnets.”

Ethan covered her mouth with his hand. “At least
you’re safe now. It’s nice to not have a killer hunting someone through the woods.”

“Or street.”

“Park,” Ethan added.

“Chain store in a strip mall,” Callen tossed in there.

She bit Ethan’s hand and got him to move it. “I get your point.” Resting her hand on Ethan’s chest, she felt peace. “I love you both,” she stated.

Both men reciprocated, leaving a kiss on her cheek.

Callen took it one step further. He placed his hand beside hers, touching his brother over the scarred raven and connecting all three of them.

Ethan was
moved by his brother’s gentleness. To show him his gratitude, he placed his hand over Callen’s scars on his arm.

Now
, they had two things in common.

They survived hell
, and they had a woman who loved them.

“Let’s give Callen the tour,” Elizabeth whispered. She had plans, and that entailed getting both men naked and having her wicked way with them.

The men were up first and pulled her to her feet. She showed him their shared office, and then they wandered out onto the patio holding hands.

“Cal, you should see it out here in the summer. It’s full of gorgeous flowers,” Elizabeth said, staring up at him.

“I hope I get to see that, Lyzee.”

Ethan released her hand and padded barefoot over to the few remaining blossoms that remained. He plucked one and walked back to his wife.

“Tradition,” he said, tucking the stem behind her ear.

Her heart skipped at the simple action, because it meant so much to her that he remembered something
as simple as a flower.

Callen watched them
, and he was envious. Not because he was excluded, but that he missed this part of their lives.

This was Ethan and Elizabeth’s love story, and it was replaying out again.
At least he was able to watch and revel in the beauty of it.

“I think it’s perfect,” Ethan stated, bringing his lips down to hers. Immediately, she moved into his body. His eyes flickered up at his brother
, and he offered him his hand. When Callen took it, he pulled him against the back of Elizabeth and sandwiched her between them.

Callen’s mouth began tracing the thudding pulse in her throat
, as Elizabeth’s scent called to him. It was a mix of shampoo and Ethan’s cologne. Just the blend of the two had some magical properties. It made his body roar to life instantaneously.

“Ethan, Callen,” she murmured, when Ethan released her mouth from the kiss. “
Get inside. I want to see my sexy Native men naked.”

Callen began
walking them backwards to the couch. When they got there, he began pulling at his shirt as Elizabeth popped open Ethan’s jeans.

Her fingers immediately went for the prize
, and he moaned. “Lyzee.”

Hearing his brother so easily lost in the passion and heat
, made him move that much quicker. Now, he too was desperate to feel Elizabeth’s hands move over his flesh. As soon as he was completely naked, Callen’s fingers found a path around her body to stroke heated flesh.

Ethan wanted a fast, hot, romp.
He already had Elizabeth slowly. What he wanted was for the three of them to come together like they always did, in an explosion of passion and love.

Pushing her into his brother, he watched them both tumble backwards over the arm of the couch. Ethan trusted his brother so much
, that he knew Callen’s first instinct would be to catch Elizabeth and cradle her against his body.

Following them over the arm, he took his place over both of them and literally attacked.

Elizabeth moaned, as her husband slid into her body without warning. It was so sudden that it tore the breath from her lungs. While he invaded, Callen teased, tormented, and whispered in her ear, things that dreams were made of.

God, this was heaven, trapped between her two sinners. If possible, she never wanted it to stop. Callen was driving her insane as Ethan was taking what he wanted from her body.

Ying and yang collided, and she was the definite winner.

“More, Lyzee, give me all of you,” Ethan demanded.

She wouldn’t hold anything back. The feeling of an aroused Callen behind her, pressing against her flesh, as Ethan took her was making it hard to concentrate. When her body shuddered and she broke apart, Ethan still offered her no reprise. In fact, he wanted more and more from her.