When they heard a vehicle pull up, they jumped from the couch and ran for the door. Seeing Dane and Coop climb out of a truck, she felt marginally better knowing they would find Rowdy and hopefully whoever or whatever had been outside getting him all excited.
“Could you have taken any longer?” Kennedy asked with a heavily sarcastic voice, earning a growl from Coop.
“Watch it little girl, or I’ll put you over my knee.” He threatened, making her stick her tongue out at him. Chuckling, he called her a brat before they went around back to check things out and see if they could find Rowdy.
“You girls get back inside and lock the doors until we get back,” Dane shouted as he followed Coop.
Going inside, they resumed their position of sitting on the couch. “Do you think it was him?” Emily voiced the question to her biggest fear. “Am I putting you guys in danger by being here?” she asked, worried.
Turning towards her, Keeley grabbed both her hands in her own saying, “Emily, this is not on you. It was probably some stupid animal coming too close. But even if it wasn’t, this stupid psycho stalker is not your fault, ok.” Looking up she saw how serious Keeley was and looking to Kenny she saw the same determination on her face. Nodding her agreement, Emily let it go. For now.
It wasn’t long before they heard Rowdy come running up the steps and Keeley flinging the door open to hug him and let everyone inside.
“Well?” Keeley asked them sounding impatient, but Emily could hear the slight tremor in the other woman’s voice.
“I think it was a deer or coyote, but we’re staying the night, and we’ll take a closer look in the morning,” Coop said, but the look they shared before answering didn’t have Emily convinced.
“Well, there goes girls’ night!” Kennedy said being overly dramatic. Probably trying to sooth everyone’s anxiety over the tense last hour.
“You’re pushing it, Ken!” Coop said teasing her, knowing she hated that name. Kicking his shin, she stomped back into the house. “Shit!” He exclaimed while Dane just laughed at him saying, “You know better, dude.”
When they caught sight of her standing slightly behind the door, they smiled at her, softening their expressions. “How you doing, Em?” Dane asked quietly like he knew she would spook at the slightest sound.
Looking between them, they gazed at her so intently she was at a loss for words. She was so attracted to them but knew they wouldn’t want some messed up woman like her. She was too fragile and damaged. Her stalker had messed with everything she used to be. She’d always been shy, but she knew who she was and what she wanted from life, but now she had no idea. Her confidence was at an all-time low and most days, she fought just to get out of bed. She’d sunk into a deep depression that she didn’t know how to get out of. Realizing she hadn’t answered Dane yet she mumbled out “fine” before turning and walking back inside.
Seeing that Keeley was cleaning up, she helped bring things into her gorgeous white and chrome kitchen. It was almost like her own dream house, only she wanted everything in a burnished steel. Going to the guest room she was shown earlier, Emily stripped down and grabbed her old, baggy t-shirt she’d slept in since she was fourteen and slipped it on.
Climbing into the beautiful dark brown sleigh bed, Emily tried to get her mind to stop or at least slow down, but it was in overdrive from the last few nights of hang-up calls and tonight’s scare. She had been terrified it was her stalker finally coming for her. She had been more afraid for her friends than herself. Having Coop and Dane show up had thrown her already tumultuous emotions up another notch.
She was living on a tightrope, going nowhere fast. Her body finally succumbed to exhaustion and she fell into a deep restless sleep.
Sitting in the living room after all three girls had gone to bed, Coop felt restless. Like his skin was crawling. It hadn’t looked like anyone was outside; there were no deep footprints and nothing to indicate it was an actual person. It could have been anything at all, but he felt someone or something watching them as they looked for Keeley’s new dog. Something was off here and he couldn’t figure out what.
“What are you thinking, Coop?” Dane broke into his thoughts.
“Something’s off, man. We’re missing an essential piece of the puzzle with Emily’s stalker. This Henry character just doesn’t feel right,” he said, finally, looking Dane in the eye to gauge his reaction.
Nodding his head, Dane agreed. “I thought so, too. He’s too easy. He didn’t try to hide anything. No doubt he’s infatuated with her, maybe more than what’s normal, but I don’t think he’s our guy either.”
Feeling slightly relieved that he wasn’t the only one feeling like things weren’t as they seemed got him thinking that they should retrace her steps further back than what they already had. As he was about to suggest that to Dane, they heard painful moaning coming from the hallway behind them.
Getting up slowly and quietly, they made their way down the hall until they came to one of the rooms on the right. Looking at Dane and nodding his head, Coop carefully opened the door a small fraction and peered in. Seeing nothing amiss, his eyes shot to the bed just as Emily started thrashing around. “Shit.” He grunted as they both rushed over to the bed.
“Emily, baby, wake up.” Dane tried soothing her with his hand; caressing her cheek. She seemed to quiet down for a second until he removed it, then she started again and the whimpering began. Swearing, Coop crawled in beside her, pulling her back to his front. Wrapping one hand in her hair and the other around her waist, he started murmuring softly to her. “You’re alright, baby girl, we got you. You’re safe, Emily, I swear.”
Climbing in on the other side, Dane slid his front to hers and tangled their legs together. He put one hand under her hip and the other he ran his knuckles up and down her cheek softly saying, “We got you, doll.” Kissing her cheek, they watched her until they succumbed to sleep as well.
Waking up early the next morning, Emily was shocked at the position she was in. In front of her was Dane’s handsome face. He looked so relaxed in sleep; so peaceful. He was even bigger up close. She knew he was huge before, but now? Having his body pressed up against hers, her head just under his chin and her legs only going as far as his shins she thought, Christ, he’s enormous. He had one hand cupping her ass cheek from underneath her and one under her shirt laying in the dip of her waist. It was… different. Nice but definitely different. She hadn’t had many men touch her before, but the way he held her felt good.
Turning her head, she looked up to see Coop behind her with his front plastered to her back; they were practically one unit lying there. He was so close she could feel his erection nestled in between her ass cheeks. Blushing at the thought, she wiggled a little. Hearing a loud groan behind her and feeling a hand flex in her hair tightly, she s
topped moving around.
A whisper in her ear had her halting altogether. “Baby girl.” Coop breathed out, snaking his other hand around her middle and placing it just below her breasts, pulling her closer to him. “Fuck.” He hissed out when she went to turn over and brushed his erection with her hip.
“Wh—” clearing her throat she tried again. “What are you guys doing in here?” she whispered not wanting to wake Dane.
“You’re beautiful in the mornings.” He smiled at her, running one hand down her cheek. “We heard you moaning last night and came in to see if you were ok. You were having a nightmare so we climbed in trying to wake you, but as soon as we touched you, you calmed down and we stayed,” he said logically.