Author note:
Thanks for bearing with me. Real life demanded my attention for a while. We're almost there! I hope you all enjoy this installment. Please drop me a review and let me know if this was the reunion you envisioned.
CH 97-No Longer Alone
Clay was doing his best to stay dialed into their mission during their remaining time in Afghanistan. They only had about two weeks to get this bastard Al-Safi and either bring him in or bring him down. His terror network had just struck another soft target there in the Nangahar province, killing twenty-five civilians and wounding another thirty. As much as he wanted to get home to take care of Emma, he knew that he and the guys couldn't leave their business undone. They needed to get this guy.
He was relying on Derek and Metal to stay on top of the situation at home and keep him in the loop. So far things had been quiet, with no reports of the appearance of Troy Mitchell anywhere near the Perry household. But Clay wouldn't be completely at ease until he was home and could ensure Emma's well-being himself and could confront this asshole face-to-face.
Emma made it through her night class with Troy with no incidents. She sincerely hoped he had moved on and wouldn't bother her anymore. It had been a while since the dead squid showed up on her doorstep and she was feeling like they might be able to put this all behind them. Even Metal and Derek hadn't seen him lurking about. They even went over to the apartment to pick up her mail and to check things out and reported that everything seemed normal. She didn't let her guard down but was gaining some of her confidence back. That was until the next Wednesday rolled around and she got into work at the Day Care.
Emma was in early for her music classes as the office had informed her that there was another delivery for her. She assumed it was the xylophone that she was waiting for. She stopped in the office to retrieve the box and then went to her class. Once in the room, she turned on the light and eagerly opened the box. Peeling back the carboard flaps she gasped and dropped it on the ground. It was him. He must have followed her to where she worked. She approached the container carefully and peered inside again. The box contained a plush dog with its head removed and a note.
-Your dog can't protect you all the time-
Emma was shaking uncontrollably. As much as the previous incidents scared her, they were only intimidation tactics. This was an actual threat. She was trying to calm herself as the kids trooped into the room. She would need to control herself and get through her classes before she could deal with this.
As soon as her last class was over, she approached the office to inquire about the delivery. Who dropped it off? Did they ask for her by name? Her questions didn't get her anywhere. She stayed inside the building and called Metal to inform him, and to ask him if he or Derek could drive with her back to the Perry's.
The gruff Operator responded immediately. After about thirty minutes he showed up and followed Emma back to Ray and Naima's house. He came inside, carrying the offensive delivery. Once again, Emma called the police and reported the continued harassment. She, Naima, and Metal were frustrated when the officer informed them that since Troy hadn't been seen and couldn't be tied to the delivery, there wasn't anything they could do. They decided then and there that Emma wouldn't be left on her own again. Metal called Derek and they agreed that one of the two of them would be watching over her 24/7 until Bravo returned next week. She hated to cause such an imposition, but she was too frightened to argue.
From that point on, Emma had a shadow. Whether it was work, classes, trips to the store, or taking Koda on his walks, her Alpha bodyguards weren't far away. She also continued to take Koda to class with her, ensuring that even when Derek and Metal couldn't accompany her, she wasn't alone. Even though Emma appreciated their efforts to protect her, she wanted Clay. She knew that once he was back home with her, she wouldn't be afraid anymore.
Bravo's efforts were finally successful. Just three days before their deployment was ending, Mandy broke one of Al-Safi's conspirators and got his leader's current whereabouts. The team took the safe house by surprise and were able to nab their HVT and collect a plethora of phones, computers and other electronics that would definitely put a dent in any future activities.
That night the team was gathered around the fire pit, riding high off their recent success and the prospect of returning home to their loved ones safe and sound. Even Clay was feeling surprisingly good. The team was heading home, no one was injured, and Emma was doing fine. He was a few beers in when his phone pinged with an incoming text. He hoped it was Emma asking about their expected return. He couldn't wait to see her. Instead, the message was from Metal and the contents made him curse and throw the bottle in his hand against the concrete blocks that served as their seating.
Instantly concerned for his daughter, Jason spoke up.
"What's up Clay? Is Emma alright?"
Clay read the message to him and the rest of the team quieted down to listen as well.
"Fuck," Jason growled as he started to pace.
"We gotta put a stop to this," Sonny added. "Ain't nobody gonna mess with Princess and get away with it."
Jason looked to Clay and then answered Sonny.
"We will. Our mission here is done. We need to put our heads together and figure out how we're going to deal with this when we're back stateside."
With a damper put on their evening, the guys settled down and talked through how to put an end to this without ending up on the wrong side of the law. They had a solid plan and Jason went to talk to his Alpha brothers to put it into motion. Clay tried to breath easy, but he knew he wouldn't until Emma was safe in his arms. 72 hours. They just had to make it through another 72 hours.
Emma packed up her things, and Koda, and drove to the airstrip. Even though Naima and other Bravo loved ones would be there, Metal still followed them over and waited with them until he could talk to his Bravo brothers in person.
Emma tried to keep her mind occupied by entertaining RJ and Jameelah with a few of Koda's tricks. The dog was running through his repertoire for the third time when the gate finally opened. Clay was the first one through the fence. He picked up his pace and jogged over to Emma.
The moment she saw him, she wanted to run and throw herself into his arms. But she stood, rooted to the spot. He stopped right in front of her, reaching out a hand to cup her cheek. He could see the dark circles under her eyes, the tension in her stance, and could tell by the fit of her clothing that she had lost weight.
"Baby…" he whispered quietly and then pulled her into his arms.
The moment she felt his arms around her, she crumpled. Clay picked her up and held her tight against him. She buried her face into the crook of his neck and sobbed. She had so many emotions that she couldn't process them. She was thankful he and the team were home safe, happy that he was back with her, and grateful that she wouldn't have to deal with things alone any longer.
"Shhh, shh, Emmie. It's okay babe. I'm here now. We're home. It's all gonna be okay."
He was trying to calm her down before she started to hyperventilate. Her choking sobs tore at his heart.
"Breath honey. Breath for me baby…in…out, there you go."
She began to calm as she mimicked his breathing. Clay could see Jason standing by, wanting to see for himself that his girl was in one piece. Clay set her on her feet and steadied her.
"Em, honey. You need to talk to your dad, okay?"
She nodded against his chest and then took a step back. Jason was there immediately, hugging her and rocking back and forth. While Jason held her, he went over to check in with Metal, and thank him for watching out for Emma. The older man brushed off his thanks and wanted to know what their plan was. Sonny stepped up to fill him in as Jason called Clay back over.
Jason kissed Emma on the head and released her to Clay's waiting arms. Clay started to talk about putting their idea into motion when Jason interrupted.
"Tomorrow, we'll regroup tomorrow. For now, just take her home."
Clay nodded and guided Emma toward the passenger side of his truck. He whistled for Koda and the dog jumped up into the back seat. Climbing behind the wheel, he glanced over at Emma before he started the ignition. Even with bloodshot eyes, blotchy cheeks, and a red nose, she was the most beautiful women in the world to him. Wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks, he leaned over and cradled her face in his hands.
"I missed you Emmie," he stated before he placed a soft kiss on her lips.
"I missed you too."
Clay drove them home. As they walked up the stairs to the apartment, he noticed Emma's back stiffen as they approached their door.
"It's gonna be okay babe. I'm going to take care of this, I promise."
She swallowed and nodded as they entered, and he locked the door behind them. Koda was overjoyed to be home and jumped up and flopped down on the couch. Clay just shook his head. He couldn't find it within himself to make the pup move since he had been keeping Emma safe these last weeks. Emma went to fill up Koda's food and water bowls and then started to unpack Clay's duffle, sorting things for the wash.
Clay could see right through her. Keeping busy when her emotions were over-whelming her was one of her coping techniques. He took the clothes from her hands and pulled her into his arms. They stood in the middle of the room, unmoving.
Emma buried her head in his chest and breathed in the familiar scent of him. Her frayed nerves started to calm, and she could feel herself relaxing as his hands rubbed up and down her back. Immediately on the heels of her contentment, she could feel arousal bubbling up from deep within. She needed him. She needed him to take her, to possess her, to make her forget about anything and everything else except for the two of them. She knotted her fingers into the front of his shirt and pulled his mouth to hers, nipping at his lips.
Clay responded to her need, tangling his fingers in her hair, and tilting her head to lick and suck at the tender skin of her neck. As she moaned and pressed herself closer to him, she could feel his desire for her strong and hard against her abdomen. Emma pulled him with her as she took a few steps back toward their bedroom. In order to speed their progress, Clay picked her up, exited the living room and kicked the door closed behind them.
Clay set Emma down and she immediately began to unbuckle his belt and fumble with the buttons and zipper on his jeans. He stepped out of his shoes and socks as his hands started to push down the waistband of her leggings. His pants were barely down to his ankles when Emma reached her hand into his boxer briefs and stroked him from base to tip.
"God! Emmie…baby…"
They continued to undress each other in between kisses and caresses. Clay backed her against the mattress and she laid down, arms and legs grasping for him. He knew what she needed. He bracketed her small frame in between his arms and nestled his hips between her thighs, letting her feel just enough of the weight of him on top of her. She wrapped her arms up and around his back, clutching his shoulders as she rubbed herself against his length. She was hot and slick against him and it took all his self-control to keep from plunging himself inside her.
"Clay, I need, I ahh…"
Clay was hungry for her, his body was always hungry for her, but right now he was hungry for her in the most literal sense. He tore his lips from hers and began to kiss and lick his way down to the juncture of her thighs. He only paused his progress briefly to take her breasts and rasp his tongue across the pebbled tips. As he neared her core, he could smell the thick scent of her arousal and his mouth watered in anticipation. She made room for his broad shoulders and he gently parted her folds with his roughened fingers. As the tip of his tongue traveled from her opening to her clit and back again, he moaned in satisfaction, and her hips bucked under him. Emma wove her fingers through the heavy waves of his hair as he drove her higher and higher with his mouth. She couldn't think about anything else except the feel of his soft lips and hot tongue making love to her.
Her legs were shaking and her breath coming and sharp pants. He pursed his lips around her sensitive bundle of nerves, and she moaned his name in ecstasy. Tasting her pleasure and hearing her call out his name was almost enough to make him lose his control and come on the spot. But Emma reached for him immediately, threading her fingers through his and tugged him back up on top of her again. She released his left hand and wrapped her fingers around his erection, guiding him into her body.
As he entered her, he could still feel her pulsing with the aftershock of her orgasm. He wanted to slow down and draw out their satisfaction, but she didn't want to have time to think, she only wanted to feel. Locking her ankles behind him she propelled herself with his thrusts, keeping up their pace.
"More, Clay, please more!"
He was helpless to resist her and flicked his hips hard and fast until they both dissolved into liquid pleasure.
Clay moved to her side and gathered her to him, stroking her back and shoulders as he pressed kisses to her brow. He could feel her breath still coming in exhausted pants and her heart racing in her chest.
"I love you Clay. I need you so much," she said earnestly.
"I need you too Emmie."
He continued to draw his fingertips lightly over her back until her eyelids fluttered closed.
"Shhh, go to sleep baby. I'm here. I've got you," he crooned to her over and over until he felt her body relax.
He was exhausted too, but he kept watch over her until he was sure she was in a sound sleep. Then, he finally closed his eyes and allowed himself to drift off.
They both slept well into the morning, unaware that Troy had driven by, and seeing the truck back in the parking lot, convinced himself that his plan was working. He had waited just long enough for her to think that she was safe back at home before he would spring the final step of his revenge.
