chasing demons. ***completed***

#14 bait

she didn't sleep well all night. she tossed and turned. nightmares of someone taking her picture when she was sleeping crept through her mind. she didn't hear from Dan or Kevin all night. she and Mary fell asleep holding each other. neither wanted to be alone. she must have dosed off before the sun hit the sky. she felt arms around her then weightlessness like she was floating in the air. she began waking up when Dan whispered in her ear. " shhh, I got you. just rest." he nodded at Kevin and they both went their separate ways.

Emma felt like she was being placed in a bed and the bed dip beside her as Dan came closer wrapping his arms around her securely. she could hear his breathing level out and they both fell fast asleep in each other's arms.

the morning sun was peeking through the window. Emma started stirring, her eyes fluttering open. Dan's face was right next to hers as she took him in. he made her feel safe and right now more than anything she needed that feeling. she traced his cheek with her finger kissing his forehead lightly. "mmmm, good morning." his voice was hoarse as he talked.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up." she felt his arms tighten around her.

"I could wake up like this every day. how are you feeling?" how was she feeling? she really didn't give herself time to think about how she was feeling. if she were to be honest, scared. violated. hyper aware of everything and everyone around her. that's how she was feeling. sensing her distress Dan sat up hovering above her. " hey, I'm here and I will find out who is doing this. we already set the plan in motion. just remember I will never let anything happen to you or Xavier." she felt him lean down kissing her lips softly.

"it's the pictures. there are pictures of me naked. you can see everything. pictures of us making love. I'm not ok. I'm scared Dan. someone has been watching me for a long time and I had no clue." she could feel tears trying to push their way out as she held her breath trying to stop the onslaught of emotions boiling inside her. "I know you think it is Paul."

"not just me. but we have cameras everywhere just in case. we called in a few of the guys who are states side and they are here now too. we set up surveillance all over . I will show you discretely when we get back to your house. also, the room is being fixed now and all your locks have been changed and so are your windows so they are more secure. there is also alarms on the downstairs windows so you are alerted if someone comes in. there is something else we need to discuss."

Emma was trying to take it all in as the words were swarming in her head. it was all so hard to process. she felt like her mind and body were overwhelmed. " what's wrong?"

" I know this is a lot to ask of you," Dan closed his eyes as he tried to use his words without upsetting her more. " basically we need to use you as bait."

Emma's face looked shocked as she sat up quickly. " wait I'm confused. you want to use me as bait? how is that keeping Xavier or me safe?"

" we need to lure this person out. this person clearly has been watching you and using you would be our best chance to get whoever is doing this." Emma took in a deep breath. her entire world felt like it was closing in on her.

"what if I'm scared?" he pulled her closer to him. he wished he could take this all away from her.

"hey, it's going to be ok. we will find out who this is and you will get your life back."

Emma felt her stomach turn as she made herself some coffee. she would ultimately be placing herself in harms way to draw out whoever has been doing this to her. she knew everyone thought it was Paul but she wasn't sure what to think about that. it felt to obvious. yes, he had become more aggressive but could he be bold enough to follow her every move? Emma wasn't sure. then again she wasn't sure about anything anymore. why would someone target her like this? she closed her eyes trying to keep the headache from forming. she needed to figure out a way to get rid of her stress. "what about Xavier? how do we keep him safe?"

"we need to have someone with him or close to him at all times. do you have family from out of town that people know of here but has never met?"

"why?"

"so I can assign one of the guys with him at all times. it would be easy if people think he is family from out of town."

"my cousin Dane. he will be with him all the time?"

"yes. get the spare room set up he will sleep there. I don't want to leave you unprotected."

"well I have you?" she could tell there was something he hadn't told her yet in this plan. "spit it out Dan. I'm not good with secrets."

"well we are going to have a break up. not a real one. I won't be far but I need to flush this person out. part of it is thinking you and I aren't together which would leave you more vulnerable." she could see how serious he was. she didn't like the idea of 'breaking' up and people pawing all over him but she will do whatever she needed to in order to keep her son safe.

he could see the worry evident on her face. her eyes looked distant and her body was stiff. "I can't say I like this at all. what if someone asks you out?"

he kissed her forehead and trailed to her jaw. she moaned as she felt his hands trailing up and down her side. "no one could ever make me feel like you do. I never knew how amazing cotton candy could taste until you. I will not date anyone else. trust me." he was happy to see her lips curled into a smile. her trusting him meant everything. he knew this wasn't going to be easy. in just a short amount of time she had become his sweet addiction. he couldn't get enough of her.

"when do we start this?" he could feel her breath hitch as he trailed down to her breast. "mmmmm." another moan sounded out from her mouth.

" I figure we have time for this first." he took her clothed breast into his mouth sucking her n****e through the material. one hand trailed down into her underwear rubbing her clit in a circular pattern." you are so sexy." there was a knock at the door interrupting them. Dan leaned his head on hers. " crap, I was hoping we had more time."

Emma couldn't stop laughing. "Come on captain Dan. the sooner we get this started the sooner we can end this." groaning he got up out of bed. "hey captain?"

"yes?"

"at the end of all of this I expect a lot of cotton candy. you will have a lot of making up to do." she smiled kissing his lips and then walked out of the bedroom.

there in the door stood Connor. the man who would be Xavier's bodyguard. he was grinning at Dan like a kid with a cookie. "I see you found someone who keeps you on your toes."

Dan laughed. "that she does. I think I'm going to marry that woman."

Connor looked surprised. " You mean the man who would never settle down or have a family is going to have both?" Connor reached over patting Dan on the shoulder. "man I'm happy for you. you really deserve it." Now Dan felt he needed to prove he was deserving of her. He wanted her to know she would always be safe with him. He wanted to be the man she needed no matter what. Connor stopped at the top of the stairs and turned around to Dan. "Can you teach me what it is you like about cotton candy?" Dan took off after him down the stairs laughing at his brother in arms.