Emily's Protectors (The Protectors 2)

“No, I’m going,” she told him standing her ground.

“Baby, I agree with Dane here; it’s not safe. Especially if he’s taunting this big bastard.” Coop tried to reason.

“Look, you want me safe, I get that. I want me safe, too. But I refuse to give into him any longer. Until I met you two, I was ready and willing to give up. I just wanted my life back, or to be gone.” She tried explaining, shrugging at the disbelief plainly written on their faces. “I was; I just couldn’t do it anymore. But now I have you two, at least I hope I do, and I have Keels and Kenny. I don’t want to go back to that shell of a woman I was.” She told them passionately, just barely holding back from stomping her feet like a six-year-old girl instead of the twenty-two-year-old woman she was.

When Dane grabbed her shoulders, she knew what he was going to say before he opened his mouth. “Baby girl, I need —” She interrupted. “I know what you guys need Dane, but what about what I need?” she asked, feeling the tears clog her throat. “I have to do this for me; I need to be normal. And before you even try; my hip is fine. The wound was minor.” She tried a glare but seeing the worry etched in every line of his face, she softened her plea with a simple “Please, Dane.”

“Fuck!” He thundered out, letting her know she had pretty much won the battle but certainly not the war. Forcing back the smile trying to break free, she struggled to keep it from her eyes and from the glare thrown her way from them both. She knew she failed miserably.

“Three conditions and they’re non-negotiable,” Coop said harshly because Dane was grinding his teeth so hard she could hear, and he probably had lock-jaw. Eagerly nodding her head in understanding, she waited for their terms.

“You have two guys with you at all times. They check bathrooms and dressing rooms before you enter, too,” Dane said between clenched teeth.

“We put a tracker in both your phones,” Coop told her sounding more reasonable than the clearly frustrated Dane.

Nodding her agreement, she waited for the third condition with baited breath.

“You, and only you, will call us every hour on the hour from the minute you leave our sight,” Dane told her. “And Emily…” He questioned, waiting for her full attention. “You breach any of these terms and you’re going over my knee this time, and I promise you, baby girl, you won’t like it.” He threatened only turning her on further. She must be a masochist because the thought of having Dane’s hand print on her ass left her panting for breath and her pussy juices sliding down her leg.

“Ok.” She agreed before they could change their minds.

“Good. Now, we’re going to go find Nate and Ty and give the guys a call and see where they’re at. You gonna go hang with Keeley again?” he asked her.

“Yes, we’re refiling everything. Great fun.” She retorted sarcastically, leaving the room in search of her friend.

“Oh my God, Emily!” Keeley slammed her head down on her desk, but not before she saw her bright pink cheeks. “I can’t believe you heard that. I’m so embarrassed.” She moaned.

Laughing at her friend, she decided to tease her a little. “Would it help if I told you it provided a great start to our own little impromptu session?” Laughing at the horror written on her face when she looked up, Emily nodded her head.

“Well, ok, maybe a little. But shit. I wonder how many other people have heard us?” She wondered aloud.

Shrugging her shoulders, Emily smiled in remembrance of what they’d done not too long ago in Dane’s office. She’d nearly died when Coop walked in until she realized it was him. Having him join her and Dane so smoothly had felt natural. Like it was meant to be.

“Keeley?” She questioned.

“Yeah, hun?”

“How did you know you’d be ok with this type of relationship? How do you cope with it?”

She queried hesitantly.

“Well, it wasn’t hard, honestly. They really didn’t give me much of a choice. They just sort of took over once my father kicked me out,” she explained sadly. “A day after we met, they swore they knew I was the one for them. Really, who was I to argue? I knew they were different the second I laid eyes on them,” she told her wistfully.

“But what ab

out the naysayers? How do you deal with the hurtful whispers behind your back?”

“Hmm… At first they tried to hide it. Once I was more comfortable with the three of us, I noticed it more often and I generally ignore it. Unless someone gets right in my face, then I usually just smile and ask if they’re jealous. Or if one of them has gotten me wound up, I’ll kiss them both. That shuts people up really quick,” Keeley told her with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “What’s brought this on? I thought you were adjusting? I know it’s only been a few days, but you’d be surprised how close you can get in such little time.”

“Nothing really. Well, there was this nurse in the hospital that was really snarky about finding us lying in bed together. We haven’t really gone out, other than that. But I’m not forward enough to actually do something so in your face if someone were to approach me,” she explained.

“Let the guys help you deal with it. They knew when they chose this type of relationship that others wouldn’t be as accepting of it as some. It’s all about trust and honesty. You need to trust them to deal, and they need to be honest when it happens and you have questions. Don’t be afraid to communicate with them… about anything,” she winked while saying the last part, making Emily’s mind go back in the gutter.

Grabbing Keeley’s hand, she squeezed it in thanks. Picking up the next file to be put in her intricate and slightly neurotic filing system, Emily was lost in thought for the first time thinking of the future and how she might have one. What it will hold for her. She hadn’t thought about more than the next day in so long, she never realized how much she longed to plan ahead.

Before long, she would hopefully be able to see her mom face to face again. Maybe convince her to move down to Austin. It was such a gorgeous city. She had often found herself driving around at night, just to see the lights and the vibrancy of it all. She hated to admit she did miss Nebraska, but she knew she wouldn’t go back. Not permanently, anyways. She wanted to build her life here, with Dane and Coop.

She would love to be able to plan her wedding, have children, and be normal again. But she couldn’t do that until her stalker was caught, and she was very much looking forward to that day.