Mission: Protect the Ex(5)
Sean thought he’d have a hard time falling asleep, but he’d been wrong. The trek to the cabin, seeing Aiden, and the walk through the woods before dinner, it had all taken its toll on him. Before he knew it, his eyes were fluttering closed, and he had trouble forming a coherent thought. He thought he should just give in, fall asleep. Pray for a dreamless rest, as the proximity to Aiden told him where his mind would take him.
It felt like only minutes later the shriek of the alarm jolted him awake. Shit, one of the sensors was triggered. He quickly rubbed the sleep off his eyes and stumbled out of bed. He rolled his shoulders, jumped a couple of times, then starting getting ready. It took him no time at all to slide into his gear and strap his gun to the tactical vest.
Sean rushed into Aiden’s room and shook him lightly, his free hand covering his ex’s mouth. He mouthed “quiet” to Aiden when he finally awoke, then motioned for him to follow. When he reached the door, Sean looked over his shoulders at a bewildered Aiden, who was now sitting in the middle of his bed, the covers pooled around his waist, unmoving.
“Move, now,” he whisper-shouted. For a second, a look of defiance replaced Aiden’s wooziness. Yet something soon changed, maybe he’d noticed how Sean had geared up. Without a word of complaint, he stood and followed Sean down the stairs.
What the hell is up with him? Aiden was really skin and bone. It was easier to see now, as the man was only wearing black boxer briefs. Sean was scared out of his mind. Was Aiden sick? Was there something terribly wrong going on? Maybe it was just because of this imminent danger Tom had put him into? He shook his head, refusing to wonder about it. Sean needed his mind focused on the task at hand.
“Go lock yourself into the basement,” he said, his voice barely audible. “Come one, Aiden. Just do it!”
Aiden tilted his head, taking him in. He then nodded and took the stairs to the basement. Sean waited to hear the lock being triggered, then placed a few more sensors attached to a different alarm, and headed outside.
As he was quickly and quietly making his way through the familiar woods, Sean’s heart was beating relentlessly in his ribcage. He was terrified. More scared than he’d ever been in his life. Not behind enemy lines, not in the hospital, fighting for his life. Not even after the breakup, when he was considering life after Aiden. The idea they might get through him, reach Aiden, harm him in any way, that chilled the blood in his veins. No, he could not let that happen! He’d quickly check all the motion sensors, one by one, then make his way back and protect Aiden with his life.
Every time a new sensor turned up active and undisturbed, Sean relaxed a little more. He finally identified the one that had been triggered and checked the area around it. No footprints, no higher branches broken, nothing out of place. He did find some small prints, most likely a fox, and he let out a big sigh of relief.
Still, Sean couldn’t get too complacent. He went on and checked the rest of the sensors, then circled back around the cabin, trying to spot any intruders. There was no one roaming in the woods, getting ready to take it by force. He finally allowed himself to reach the conclusion it had been a false alarm.
Sean rushed to the basement and knocked on the huge wooden door. “It’s me, Aiden. Open up.”
A still-sleepy-looking Aiden got out from said room, shaking so badly he looked like he was about to break into pieces. Sean swore under his breath and pulled the man into a tight embrace. He’d been an idiot, forcing Aiden to lock himself in the basement. Aiden was wearing nothing but boxers. Of course he’d freeze his ass off.
“Come on, let’s go to the living room.” Sean tried to move away from him, but Aiden whimpered and pulled him back, clinging to him. Sean sighed and picked him up like he was nothing. Of course he’d be scared. He had people trying to kill him.
Aiden melted in his arms, and if Sean didn’t know any better, he’d think Aiden was purring. Sean moved quickly, gently placing his ex on the couch and wrapping him in the throw draped over one of the armrests. He then quickly turned the heat up, wondering if he should start a fire. He decided not to, that would draw too much attention to them being inside.
Sean shimmied next to Aiden, folding him against his chest and trying to warm him up. It wasn’t such a difficult task, Sean was taller and twice the width of Aiden. The still-shivering man sighed and snuggled close.
“Why did you tell me to run into the freezing basement?” Aiden asked after a while.
“One of the motion sensors was triggered,” Sean said, and kissed Aiden’s forehead before he could catch himself.
“Why are there motion sensors in the woods, Sean?” Aiden pushed himself up and stared down into Sean’s eyes. He seemed confused and weary. What the hell? Did Tom really not tell him how dangerous this stupid trial was?
“Umm… well, you see Tom said—
“Tom said what?” A touch of assertiveness snuck into Aiden’s tone, making Sean smile. He only got like that with Sean when he was horny or he wanted to find out something, usually what present he was getting.
“The trial, apparently there have been death threats.” Sean shrugged and smiled sheepishly, thinking honesty was the best approach in this situation. If the target didn’t know they were, in fact, in mortal danger, it made it harder for their bodyguard to do their job.
“Excuse me?” Aiden shrieked. “Why the hell would there be death threats in that trial?”