Taunting the Stalker

Chapter 19- Hailey

I curl up into his arms the second he lays down beside me.
I just needed him to hold me.

I hummed softly as his fingers trace up my back, his other hand finding my ass.
Typical. I grin.

I don't have the energy to do anything else besides fall asleep in this moment, just feeling safe and warm in his arms.
I know he'll watch over me.

•••

I get up out of bed the next day, smiling as I smell him on my sheets.
I have a nice slow morning, cooking myself a big breakfast, then getting around to clean up my place.
Ryder isn't here so I try and enjoy my day off by watching one of my favorite movies.

Feeling bored after, I change into some workout clothes and head down to the gym for a few hours.
No sign of his huge self here either.

•••

Happy with a good workout in, I head back home, noticing he hasn't come back yet.
I just shrug it off, stepping into a hot shower.
He can't be here all the time.

I take my time washing my hair and body before getting out, dressing in some comfortable clothes.
As I'm doing my hair, I hear a loud crash come from downstairs.
Ryder?
I stay in my room for a minute, hearing loud footsteps.
This doesn't sound like him. He's too careful.

Panic starts to set in as my breathing becomes harder.
Shit. Please be him. Please be him.
I grab my phone, my finger hovering over his contact. Shaking.
Fuck it.
I press dial.

"Hey-"

"Are you in my house right now?" I cut him off, speaking softly. I try to hide how fucking shaky my voice is right now.

"No- why would I-" I cut him off again

"Ryder- are you in my house right now" I ask again, my voice dead fucking serious this time.
Please say yes.

"No doll-"
I hear another sound come from downstairs.

"Cause there's somebody in my house right now Ryder." I get out, barely a whisper.

He's silent for a moment.

"Fuck" he grits out.
"I'm coming baby. Can you lock yourself in your bathroom baby? I'm coming" he says quickly, panic in his tone.

"Yes" I tell him, locking myself in my bathroom, trying to take deep breaths. "Please hurry" I get out.

"I'm coming as fast as I can doll. Don't hang up on me okay. I'll be there in just a few minutes" he reassures me, cursing.

"Okay" I say softly, hearing another noise downstairs.

"I'm almost there doll. Stay there for me. Fuck." He curses, and I sit back in my bathtub, trying to calm myself down.
He's coming.
He won't let anything happen to you.

"I'm pulling up now. Don't fucking open that bathroom door for anyone but me alright? You hear me?" He says breathlessly

"I understand Ryder" I tell him
Then the call disconnects.
No no no.

Moments later I hear a loud crash from downstairs, holding my breath.
I can hear voices. Loud noises.
Then a gunshot.

Nothing. I hear nothing.
I close my eyes, curling up into my legs as I hope and pray he's okay.
Please be okay.

Tears well up in my eyes as I wait.
It's all I can fucking do.
He told me to stay put.
I hear soft footsteps. They're getting closer.
The tears begin to fall down my cheeks.
Please be him.
Please god be him.

It's silent for a moment before there's a soft knock on my bathroom door.
"It's me doll. I'm here. It's okay"
I let out a sob at his voice.
I jump up out of the tub, rushing to open the door.
Before he could say anything, I crash into him, wrapping my arms around him as tears stream down, wetting his shirt.

"I've got you doll, you're okay. I've got you now." He whispers softly into my hair, stroking it gently.
I stay like this for god knows how long.
Till my tears have stopped and my breathing comes back to normal.
He just keeps whispering reassuring words into my ear, holding me tight.

"Thank you" I mumble into his chest, clutching him tightly.

"Of course doll. I'm so fucking sorry. So fucking sorry." He says over and over again.
He sounds so guilty.

I look up at him.
"It's not your fault" I smile softly
"You were the one who came. Who saved me." I tell him, and he just squeezes me tighter.

He presses a kiss to my head, cupping my cheeks as he looks down at me.
"Don't go downstairs yet, okay?" He says gently.
My eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Why?"
"I don't want you to see." He tells me, brushing his thumb against my cheek.

"Someone was trying to rob you. I know some people that are coming to clean everything up soon. You don't need to see everything."
He explains softly.

I nod softly.
"What do you need? Water? Food? Anything." He asks me.

"Just hold me please" I tell him.
He nods, leading us over to my bed.

When he lays down, I come to straddle his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck as I rest my head on his shoulder.
I can tell I caught him off guard at first, but he quickly wraps him arms around me, pulling me flush against his chest.

He strokes my back soothingly for a while and I find my fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.
He smells so good.
He occasionally places a kiss or two on my shoulder, and I smile at the feeling.
This is exactly where I need to be.
In his arms.
Where no one can hurt me.

I close my eyes, just breathing in his scent as my body relaxes.
I hear movement downstairs, but Ryder assures me those are just his "friends" cleaning up the mess.
He killed someone for me.
To protect me.

I knew nobody else would ever care about me as much as he did.
And that made me smile.

"Hey doll?" He asks softly
"Mmhm?" I mumble against his chest
"Why did you think I was in your house when you called me?" He asks carefully

I pause for a moment.

"How did you know how to get to my house so quickly?"