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

Now
, it was her turn to be surprised. That was the most honest thing that Ethan had said to her in a long time. Truthfully, she was speechless.

Ethan sensed her worry and took her hand in his. This was much like many a date night they shared.
They were together and holding hands in the front seat of his car. It warmed his heart a little and made him feel… normal.

“Shall we go, Lyzee
my love?” he asked, only releasing her hand briefly to start up his car.

She glanced over at him and stared into the blue black eyes
which stole her heart so many years ago. Here sat half her heart, and she was more than willing to fight for it.

“I’m ready, Ethan. Let’s go.”

Maybe going home would be cathartic and
help them heal.

                           *     *     *

Cyra stood in their kitchen making dinner for her fiancé. For the last week, she had been out in the field working on another serial killing. She was well aware that Chris wasn’t expecting her home quite yet.

That meant one thing
in her mind. She was going to be able to plan an awesome night of seduction.

Cyra was making his favorite food and wearing
something sexy. It wasn’t just any dress, but the one that she wore on their first date in Circle Rock.

She was betting that he would completely pick up that little detail and be more than willing to help her celebrate it. As of late, they had been suffering in the relationship department. They were solid as a couple, but weak when it came to private moments
, where they could just be alone.

For the last four months, it was beginning to be hectic and chaotic, and they still had
n’t put a date on paper for the wedding. Every time they tired, something came up.

First
, it was Christopher’s mother, and her excuses that they couldn’t have it on certain days, due to the solar and lunar alignment.

Then
, it was because of her brother’s trial schedule, which Cyra believed was a load of bullshit. Cannon Austin was a busy lawyer, but not that busy. He simply wasn’t happy that Cyra was marrying a man that quickly, or that Chris was an ME.

If it didn't bother her, why should it matter to him? Her brother kissed rich criminal
’s asses. If anyone should be mortified, it should be her.

And she was.

The entire planning schedule was just a mess. Ironically, the only people who didn't have any conflicts were the wedding party. They seemed to all be waiting on someone to book a date and carve it in stone.

Cyra was beginning to get edgy over the entire thing. Each time they had to make an appointment, someone got called away to work.

There was a body.

A case.

Or Chris’s mother cancelled on them.

Really, right about now she was ready to…

The sound of the garage door opening brought her peace. It made her heart skip in her chest as Chris came home from work. Now, they could begin their evening, turn off their phones, and maybe plan a wedding.

When he appeared in the doorway, he looked just as surprised as she had planned.

“Cyra?” he said, dropping his bag. He couldn’t believe it. She was home, and it felt like ages.

Rushing towards him, she threw herself against his body and locked her lips to his in an earth shattering welcome home kiss.
Her hands slid through his hair and held him trapped to her mouth.

Yeah, she missed the man more than anything in the world.
Her sexy ME was home and the fun was about to begin.

“Christopher,” Cyra muttered, as she dropped kisses
enthusiastically across his face. “Welcome home, handsome.”

Wow, this was going to be one hell of a night. Chris dropped her to her feet and took her face in his hands. “I’m so glad you’re home safe, Cyra,” he said
, softly. “I’ve been so lonely without you.” There were never truer words spoken. The day she drove away on a case, the house seemed empty and desolate without her.

Cyra
knew what he meant. Traveling and working without him just plain sucked.

Then
, she heard it. There was someone clearing their throat, and she had a sneaking suspicion that it was the usual suspect.

“Tony’s
here. Isn’t he?” she asked, suddenly.

Well hell!

Chris hated to disappoint her and he mouthed, ‘
sorry’,
as the man entered the room, as if on cue.

Crap!

Had he known that Cyra was home for the night, there was no way in hell that he would have invited company over.

After all, he wasn’t crazy.

There was an evening full of welcome home sex to worry about.
If it came down to Doctor Magnus or his sweet Cyra, that was a no brainer even for an overanalyzing scientist. Already, his body was awake and craving the woman pressed against the front of him.

“Hey, Cyra!
Nice dress!” Tony said, walking into the room.  He strolled past them and headed right for the refrigerator. “Want a beer, Chris?”

Uh, yeah, Chris wanted much more than a drink. What he really wanted was for Tony to disappear.
Staring at the man, he prayed that he would get the hint. How subtle could it be, since he was just making out with his fiancée in the kitchen?

“Want to stay for dinner, Tony?” she asked, releasing Chris’s hand as she crossed back to the stove top.

“Hell yes! You’re the best damn cook I know!” Tony took a seat and was enjoying the look on his buddy’s face. Oh, he was well aware that he should run out of there before the clothes began coming off, but he liked tormenting his co-worker.

Maybe a little too much.

“Do you need my help?” Chris asked Cyra, as he grabbed his own beer and tried to signal Tony to get the hell out of there. Unfortunately, the man was staring at him blankly. How could someone with that many academic accreditations be that damn dense?

“NO! The last time you tried to help, we almost had to call the fire department. So, you just sit yourself there and look all handsome for later.”

“What’s later?” Tony asked, busting them even further. He was getting his jollies by seeing Chris go a shade of red. “Are we going swimming? I didn't bring my swim trunks,” he teased.

Cyra shook her head. “No, Tony. WE,” she
said, pointing at herself and Chris, “are going to be working on wedding things.”

“I can help,” he offered, knowing that they were likely going to be doing them naked. When Chris tried to kick him but miss
ed, he nearly started to laugh.

This was his new favorite game.

“I think we’re good,” she said, as she dished out the food for the men. “How was your day, Christopher?” she asked, as the men tasted their dinner. When Chris looked like he had reached nirvana, Cyra knew that this recipe would be going in her arsenal for the future.

Chewing, Chris swallowed before answering. “Oh, you know
how it is. There were dead vagrants, head lice, oozing organs. It’s basically the same old.”

How that didn't gross her fiancé out, was beyond her.

Tony swallowed. “Today sucked. Everything had meat on it. There wasn’t a bare bone at all.”

“Yes
, that’s such a travesty,” she answered, taking a plate to the stool beside Chris. “I hate when that happens. Damn victims keeping all their flesh. How dare they?”

Tony
began laughing.

Chris interjected quickly, before
his friend could start on anything else. “How was your assignment? I didn't see Doctor Legend come in, so I didn't know you were here.”

That was his way of telling her sorry for bringing Tony home. Cyra winked at him. “
Zane worked around the clock while we were in the field. The Blackhawks sent him off duty until tomorrow morning. He looked like hell. As for the assignment, it was the same old. Someone was selling organs from the dead homeless people. We had to work on a mass grave.”

“Wow,” Chris said horrified. “
That had to suck for everyone.”

“Yeah, it did. You should have seen the look on the suspect
’s face as we had to arrest him in front of his children. It was heartbreaking.”

Tony leaned forward to look at
the woman. “Speaking of children, Chris, didn't you want to talk to Cyra about kids and parenting?”

If looks could kill, Tony would have been on his way to the morgue
, in his own body bag, toe tag included.

“About what, Christopher?” she asked, staring at him with her peaceful blue eyes.

As he opened his mouth to try and come up with some sort of lie, his cell phone started beeping. Pulling it off his belt, he noticed that it was the code for a scene. “Shit, I have to go back to work.”

Tony started laughing.

“I just want a night where I can eat dinner and talk to my beautiful fiancée,” he mumbled, pushing his plate away. “I don’t think that’s too much to ask in the grand scheme of life.”

Before he could leave, Cyra was up and pulling some Tupperware from the cabinet. She
quickly placed the food inside and popped on the lid.

“Don’t leave it in the morgue. It’ll become a specimen dish,” she warned.
“And then, I don’t want it back. Who knows what you two are growing in there.”

He was touched by how wifely that act was. “I’ll call you later. I promise
. We’ll talk about weddings and everything else on the schedule.”

Kissing him goodbye, she watched him leave.

“Can I stay or would you rather be alone?” Tony asked, eating more of his dinner.

Cyra didn't mind if
he remained and kept her company. Being alone in the big old house was a little daunting. Plus, she never knew if Belladonna was going to pop in with Igor in tow. At least she could hide behind Tony if the spider showed up. “We can watch a game after or take Rex for a walk.”

“Sounds like fun.”

Yeah, Cyra never expected to be hanging out with her fiancé’s best buddy. How wrong was it that she was having a date with a man who she wasn’t marrying, while the one she was had to run out the door? What she wanted to do was be with Chris, alone and on the couch.

Oh well, this was the element of their jobs.

Yet, it still sucked.

“Dinner’s great
, Cyra! This is amazing,” Tony declared.

Great. She impressed the wrong man…

Now that took skill.

                        *     *     *

It was a fairly easy flight and it went by relatively fast. Both Elizabeth and Ethan had spent it talking. From the minute they got out of his car, they were off duty. Their work phones were shut off and the personal ones that they used for family were the only way to reach them.

As far as they were concerned, they were off the grid when it came to work.
This little romantic interlude was going to be about reconnecting to each other, and not the dead.

Grabbing their bags, they headed towards the rental car. Once inside, Ethan opted to let her drive. She was more familiar with the roads, especially now, after dark.
He was pretty sure that it was like riding a bike. Besides, he liked watching his wife slipping back into her childhood environment.

“I called Doc and asked him to open the place up for us,” she
stated. “I didn't think to ask him to grab us any supplies,” Elizabeth added. “He sounded a little distracted, so I didn't want to bother him.”

“We can stop,” he offered. “
I do believe that before we hit Salem there are a few convenient stores. We really only need coffee and creamer. We can go out tomorrow morning. I won’t die if I don’t eat when I roll right out of bed.”

She nodded
, willing to do whatever he needed. “Okay, Ethan. If that’s what you want.”

For some reason,
her giving him that blasé response made him angry.

He couldn’t take it anymore. “Please stop being so nice. It’s making me feel like I’m beyond repair.”

She glanced over at him quickly. “What?”

“I hate how you and Callen tip toe around me like I’m a wounded animal. I’m still
the same Ethan. I’m not dead. I’m just trying to find my way back to you.”

She
didn't know how to respond to his annoyance. Apparently, he had heard them talking, since he was spot on with his assessment.

“Sorry,” she replied, a little caught off guard.

“Let’s just head to the house.”