In an instant Landon pushes me back and dodges the fist that flies toward his head. I stumble but manage to keep standing. My hands are shaking but I get the zipper of my handbag open and dig in, my fingers closing around something shaped like a cylinder.

Landon socks the attacking guy in the eye, and soon the others come to their friend's defense. Landon is seeping with anger, his muscles bulging as he readies himself for a fight. He might be a great fighter but there's just too many of them.

I quickly run forward, stepping past him before he can stop me, and spray the guys in the face with pepper spray. They scream and start coughing, their eyes closing and tearing up.

"Come on!" I drop the empty can and run to my car. Landon follows me, recovering quickly. I turn on the engine and floor it, leaving the parking lot far behind.

My pulse only slows down when I know they won't be coming after us, and I turn to look at Landon. He's watching me with pure surprise on his face.

"Since when have you carried pepper spray?"

I give him a 'duh' look. "Since I started going out by myself. Mom made sure I had one and knew how to use it. She also made me take a basic self-defense class."

"Huh," he looks a little taken aback. I guess being a guy, he's never had to worry about creeps getting handsy.

"I also carry a Swiss Army knife," I say casually, and his eyes bulge at that.

"What?" he sputters.

I keep my eyes on the road. "Well, the spray doesn't work on everyone, and I'd rather stab someone than get raped. Not that I've ever had to use it, thankfully."

He nods, thinking it over. "I'm actually glad you can defend yourself," he admits. "It makes me feel a little better about you going out by yourself."

I grin, "Me too."

"You sprayed those idiots like a pro."

"Well, it wasn't my first time."

I can feel his eyes fixing on my face. "You've been in that situation before?"

"Well," I frown, "not exactly like that. But Stella and I were walking down a street at night a few years ago," I start, then see his expression and hurry on. "We were coming from this nightclub. Anyway, these two guys approached us and tried to cop a feel and well, I just acted on instinct."

Landon shakes his head, his eyes angry. "I hate that you had to go through that. And again tonight."

"Yeah, well, what can you do?" I turn into our street and open the garage door with a controller, watching as the door rolls up slowly.

Landon reaches out and pulls my hand to his lips. Shivers run down my spine.

"I'm okay," I tell him, knowing where his mind has wandered.

"I know," he smiles faintly and lets my hand drop.

I park in the garage and we head inside the house, finding Nate and Sophie watching a Supernatural marathon. We flop down on another couch and Landon pulls me against his side as he tells the others what happened tonight.

Anger fills Nate's eyes as he listens, and Sophie strokes his hair, calming him down.

I yawn and stretch my arms above my head. Then I realize something and groan. "Damn it, I'm gonna have to go buy a new spray."

Landon looks at me like that should be least of my worries, but I just roll my eyes. Welcome to the life of women.

"Bed?" I ask, holding in another yawn.

He nods and scoops me up in his arms. I hold onto his sweater and he carries me upstairs like I weight nothing, then lays me down gently on the bed.

"Stay," I grip his sleeve and he concedes, slipping under the covers beside me. He pulls me against him and his arm snakes around my waist, holding me tight. It doesn't take long for me to fall asleep.

---

When I wake up in the morning, I can feel Landon looking at me.

"What?" my hand goes to my face. Have I got drool on my chin?

"I'm just kind of in wonder that you haven't pushed me away yet," he admits, his fingers drawing circles on my side. I push up on my elbow and push my hair behind my ear.

"To tell you the truth, I'm kinda wondering the same thing."

He gives me a dry smile. "So, any progress with that?"

I think for a moment, distracted by his touch. "I don't know. I guess I..." I frown and start over. "I can't say I'm confident we're going to make it." I hold out my hand when he opens his mouth to argue. "But somehow I'm not that afraid anymore. You make me feel..." I search for the right word, "different."

"Different how?" he frowns, not following. Not that I blame him. I'm figuring this out as I go.

"Different than I've ever felt before," I look at his hand resting on my waist. "I've never felt this... safe, I guess, with anyone before. Besides family. I feel like I can say or do anything without having to fear you're going to judge me or take it the wrong way. Because you know me. And I'm starting to think maybe you understand me, as well." His fingers stop drawing circles and travel up my side, leaving a trail of heat behind.

"You never have to worry about me not understanding," he says softly and I meet his eyes. They're a beautiful warm silver.

I spare him a faint smile. "I've never had that without a guy before."

"Not even Nick?" he asks. He doesn't look jealous, just curious.

"Especially not with him," I tell truthfully. "He never got me. And that's hugely my fault, because I never confided in him like I should've. I just... I don't know," I sigh. "I never felt connected with him, you know?"

"Yeah, I know what you mean," he confesses and I think how he's never been in an actual relationship.

"I never wanted to be weak in front of him," I continue. "He saw enough of that after the crash. And when he asked me out, I wanted to be good for him. I wanted him to see the daring, fun Avery, not the has-panic-attacks-and-nightmares Avery. But it was wrong of me. I should've never dragged him along, knowing his feelings. I just... I guess I just couldn't let go of the idea of us. I didn't want to lose anybody else."

Landon pulls me against his chest and I close my eyes.

"Well, you're never going to lose me," he whispers in my ear.

"You can't promise me that." Anything could happen. Another freak accident, another death.

His fingers find my chin and he tugs my head up. "I can't promise I'm not going to die. And you're right, we might just crash and burn. Nobody knows what's going to happen. But as long as it's up to me, I'm never going to leave your life, even if it means just being your brother's friend to you."

I close my eyes, the emotion in his eyes too strong for me to handle.

"But," his lips are almost touching mine, "I'm not planning on giving up on us."

My eyes flicker open and we gaze into each other's eyes. I move first. The gap between our lips disappears and I kiss him. I straddle his thighs and his hands go to my waist, bringing me closer.

My hands travel down his chest to his lean stomach, then to the band of his boxers. His mouth finds my neck and he trails kissed down to my collarbone, moving lower. I gasp and throw my head back, giving him better access.

His fingers find the hem of my camisole and pull it up over my head. I smash my lips against his, opening his mouth with mine and darting my tongue in. He lets out a low growl from deep in his throat and his hands find the edge of my silk shorts. His fingers graze the inside of my thighs, waking up the need between my legs.

I kick off the shorts and his hand finds its way to my sweet spot. I arch my back and moan against his mouth. Not able to wait any longer, I pull down his boxers, releasing his hardened member. I sit up and lower myself down on him, taking him inside me.

I start moving my hips in a slow figure eight, enjoying the throaty moans that escape his lips. I speed up the rhythm and his hands go to my hips, guiding me along. Soon we're both breathing heavily, our bodies moving together.

I find my release and tremble as I ride out the blissful climax. He groans and helps me keep up the rhythm, soon coming inside me. I rest my head on his shoulder as we catch our breath, both glistering with sweat.

"Shower?" I suggest and his eyes darken with lust again.

"I would lo—" he starts with a mischievous grin but is interrupted by his phone blaring to life. He frowns at the caller ID and picks up. "Hello? Yes, this is he."

I pull up the covers to my chest and lean back against the headboard. Landon's face turns grim as he listens to the person on the other end.

"What? I— Are you sure? Yes. Yes. I understand. Okay. Bye." He pulls the phone off his ear and stares at the wall, his fingers absentmindedly going through his messy hair.

"Are you okay?" I scoot closer and put my hand on his knee. "What was that all about?"

He doesn't answer, his mind somewhere far away.

"Landon?"

He blinks and looks down at me. "I—" he shakes his head and frowns. "Sorry. That was— that was the hospital."

"Is everything okay?" It's a stupid question. Everything is not okay. He wouldn't be like this if it was.

"My dad..." he clears his throat as if something had gotten stuck in there, "They found him in a park last night. He's—he's dead." He looks up and blinks rapidly, trying to keep the tears away.

I close my eyes for a second and then hug high tight. "I'm so sorry."

"Alcohol poisoning," he shakes his head, letting out an odd gurgling sound. He doesn't know whether to laugh or cry, I realize. His relationship with his dad was more than complicated.

He takes in a deep breath and rests his jaw on the nook of my shoulder. "They need me to go identify him. They found his wallet nearby, but they aren't hundred percent certain it's him, so as his next of kin..."

I pull back to look him in the eye. "I'll go with you, if you want."

"No, it's okay," he smiles a little and pecks the tip of my nose. "I don't want you seeing that. But thanks, anyway."

"Are you sure?" I don't particularly want to see a dead body, but I would do it for him. "I don't want you to be alone."

"I'll just go in and verify it's him, it should take a minute at most. I'll come back, after. Okay?"

"Okay." What else can I say?

"I'll just go get it over with," he climbs out of bed. "Mind if I hog the shower first?"

"Not at all," I lay back down on the bed. I just hope I can help him through this.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you to everyone who has read this far, I honestly never thought I'd get this many reads! Please consider voting and/or commenting to let me know what you think <3 I'd love to get some feedback :)