Under His Protection

Seventeen

After riding for a few more hours, we make it to a small town and Landon gets us a room at a bed and breakfast. Before entering, I pulled my hair up neatly and took a few deep breaths so I don't appear as stressed as I feel. As I stand at the front desk, waiting for the little old woman to get us our key, I watch as Landon talks to our driver for a few moments. My eyes scan over every inch of Landon just taking him in as if it's the first time seeing him. His hair is a little longer and he looks tired.

"You look like you're quite in love" The woman's voice pulls me back and I turn, forcing a sincere smile "I am." The woman smiles as my cheeks warm, causing me to giggle. The woman just stares at me for a moment before a sad expression crosses her face. "Love makes me miss my husband, Henry. He passed just last year."

"Oh, i'm so sorry for your loss. When my grandmother lost her husband, she wasn't the same. I can imagine that it's like losing a piece of yourself."

"That's exactly what it is, dear. Love joins two people and they are forever one." Handing me the key, she catches my hand before I can pull back, patting it softly. "It's nice to have a lovely young couple here. Enjoy"

"Thank you" I nod just as Landon comes inside. "Everything okay"

I nod, giving the woman a soft smile as she looks at us.

Landon leads us to our room and the moment we get in, I sit on the edge of the bed, feeling weak. Looking up at Landon, he runs his hand over his face, the stress causing wrinkles in his forehead. Standing up, I walk to him, wrapping my arms around his torso and squeezing.

"What's this for?" He asks as his links his hands around me.

"I never really got to just hug you before. I always wanted to just hug you" I whisper against his chest and automatically his arms tighten around me. "Now we can hug as much as you want"

"I like that" I smile, running my fingers across his back. We stand there for a while just holding each other until Landon's fingers starts easing up the back of my shirt. I melt in his arms until his fingers go hire and a sharp sting causes me to flinch. Hissing, I pull back and Landon frowns "What's wrong?"

"I think I hurt myself or something." Frowning, I go to touch the area, but Landon moves me hand away. "Let me look"

He turns me around and lifts my shirt "Yeah, there is a pretty deep scratch right here. You haven't felt it this whole time?"

I shake my head "No. My mind has been on other things. I'm just now calming down enough to feel anything." Suddenly, Landon pulls my shirt over my head, dropping it to the floor. I look at the floor as he undoes my bra before reaching around and undoing my pants. I kick them off and Landon hooks his fingers on my underwear, pulling them down. Wrapping my arms around myself, Landon gently nudges me towards the bathroom and when we enter, it's literally the most comforting bathroom i've ever laid eyes on. There is a claw foot bathtub and a separate shower along with a small old fashion sink. The whole bathroom is white with little hints of navy blue from the towels and things.

Landon sits me on the edge of the bathtub as he turns on the hot water, with only a bit of cold. My eyes follow him as he searches around before finding some lavender bath salts. Throwing in two hand fulls, he hunts again before finding bubble liquid.

A small smile creeps onto my lips "You really know how to cater to a girl"

"Only my girl" He mumbles, leaning down to kiss my forehead. The small gesture sends a shiver over me. I squeeze myself tighter. It feels a bit weird finally having his undivided attention. No more distractions or monsters to pull us apart. It's finally just me and him. After the bath fills with bubbles, I stand up and Landon takes my hand as I step in the deep tub. Sinking down in the hot water, I inhale sharply as it heats my skin.

"Too hot" Landon asks as he runs his fingers over my shoulder, taking a seat on the edge of the tub. I shake my head quickly, "No, it's perfect. Thank you"

"It's not a problem. Just relax for a bit, okay. I'm going to go make a few calls" When he stands, I begin to panic for some reason. Reaching out of the water, taking his hand before he gets out of reach. "Wait, no!" I sit up and water sloshes around me. When Landon sees the panic over my face, he kneels down "I'm coming back, I promise"

My eyes flicker over his face as if he is going to disappear any second. We haven't been apart in days and with the way everything has been going, I just never know who is still after us."How do I know?"

My wet hand squeezes his and when he realizes that I have no real intention of letting him go, he sighs "The calls can wait" Cupping my face, he leans in and kisses me gently before standing to his feet. My eyes follow as he peels his shirt over his head, dropping it to the floor while kicking off his shoes. I continue to watch as he undoes his pants, his eyes staying glued to mine. When Landon is naked, he asks me to slide forward and when I do, he eases into the bath water behind me.

I hear him inhale as the hot water hits his skin "You are such a liar. This water is hot as f**k"

I let a giggle slips out as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me back against him as the bubbles rise up to my chin. "Give it a few minutes. It'll feel amazing" Landon's chest rises and falls against my back as he kisses the back of my head, his fingers trailing over my stomach.

"I haven't taken a bubble bath in a long time" I hum as the steam fills the bathroom around us. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders with all this Crow drama behind us for the time being. I don't know how long it's going to last, but for now, I just want to pretend that Landon and I are a normal couple. And like normal couples, we are taking a bath together, touching each other, feeling calm in each other's presence knowing we're safe. For now. Or maybe for forever.

"What are you thinking about?" Landon whisper, his arm coming up to wrap around me.

"Nothing" I shake my head, sinking further down into the water. Landon squeeze me a bit tighter "I don't believe you. I know you by now and when you thinking about something, you take a lot of deep breaths. What has you frustrated?"

"I just keep thinking that something is going to happen. Something bad. Us being able to get away, it just seems too good to be true. I want to relax, but I keep thinking that someone is going to come kicking the door down any second to take me away from you"

"They'll have to kill me first"

Sliding up, I turn and look at him "Please, don't say things like that. Don't send that kind of energy into the universe"

"Then take your own advice and stop letting negative thoughts consume you. We're fine, baby. I promise. No one knows where we are at all. I didn't even know where we were until we got here"

"What do you mean?" I frown.

"I told my friend, Carl not to tell me where he was dropping us off at. I made sure not to pay any attention to any of the signs on the highway" Landon smirks, tucking a lock of damp hair behind my ear.

"And how did you manage that? Did you blindfold yourself?"

"No, I just had something more beautiful to stare at the whole ride. You look like an angel when you sleep" A slow smile creeps onto Landon's lips and I look away, blushing. "I do not. I probably slobbed on you from exhaustion."

"Even if you did, I'd still think you were beautiful. I've always thought you were beautiful from the very first moment." I almost don't register what he is saying until the memory of him pulling me out of bed comes back to me. "You mean when you kicked my door in looking for Ray?"

Landon nods "Yeah. I thought you were gorgeous, but I couldn't let myself really feel anything. When we were in the van, I couldn't stop looking at you. It was unnerving."

"Unnerving for you. Terrifying for me. And that bathroom thing was totally disgusting, Landon."

A deep chuckle rumbles through Landon as he throws his head back from the memory. "It didn't gross me out at all. I was just doing my job, baby. I was taking care of you"

"Yeah, yeah. It was still horrible, but at least I got to kick you in the head. Total payback" I nod and Landon tickles my sides, causing me to squirm "That crap hurt like hell."

"Good. You deserved it, but you started growing on me after a while" I smile, shrugging before leaning back against him again. Landon doesn't say anything for a moment and when I hear a knock on the door, I flinch hard causing Landon to tighten his arms around me. "It's okay. I told Carl to get us some clothes and things. He's just dropping it off."

My body relaxes a bit, but my heart continues thud hard. Even when i'm trying to relax and hope for the best, my nerves are still all raveled. We listen as the door opens and closes again. Leaning to the side, I turn my head and look up at Landon whose head is leaning back against the tub, eyes closed. "Can I ask you a question? Well a few questions"

"If I say no will that stop you?"

I pout, but he doesn't see "Um no"

Landon's lips turn up into a smile and he shakes his head "Ask away, babe"

"You said that you thought I was beautiful from the beginning and I assume you were attracted to me so how did you keep so calm knowing that Crow was hurting me. You never seemed to care. I saw that it bothered you a bit, but you never seemed as if you were genuinely concerned in the beginning"

Landon opens his eyes and they find mine. "I don't really know how to answer that, Cam. I was attracted to you, but we didn't have a connection of any kind. It was hard for me to really sympathise with you when I didn't know you"

Even with his logical and realistic answer, it still hurts to hear. "I understand" I mumble. "But in the beginning, did you really think I deserved it? To be beaten?" I think back to those first few days with Landon and how I would watch him leave me in the room with Crow or how he would appear after Crow left. Landon couldn't have been that heartless. I mean it's obvious. He saved me in the end.

"Cam, I...I didn't know you then. I was doing my job." His words crush into my chest and I feel tears coming to my eyes. Sitting up, lift myself from the bath and Landon takes me wrist as I climb out. "Cam, wait"

"I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry." I shake my head as I wrap a warm towel around me before leaving the bathroom. I hear Landon exit the bath and soon he is behind me. "Camilla, please don't do this"

"Do what?" I mumble as hug my arms around my body, suddenly feeling a little cold. Feeling his body get closer, I know he is right behind me. Surely if he inhaled deeply, his chest would touch my back. A pair of hands land on my waist, turning me around. When he sees the tears on my cheeks, he sighs. "Please, forgive me, Camilla"

I frown, pulling back "Forgive you? You didn't do anything wrong. I shouldn't have asked you those questions. You were just doing your job. I was a job. I get it." Shrugging, I look anywhere and everywhere but Landon. I was dumb for assuming that anyone in Landon's position would have had remorse for me in the beginning. Crow made them believe that I was a criminal. A terrorist. Maybe I just want to think that if I were in their position, I would have done something sooner.

When I finally look up at Landon, he is watching my expressions change from sad to numb. The last thing I want if for him to feel guilty for anything he had no control over.

"Cam, I'm not going to make any excuses for the way I was, but essentially, you are right. I knew it was wrong and I knew you didn't deserve it. And yes, my life was on the line too, but still I knew the crime didn't fit the punishment. I made myself immune to having sympathy, but you made it hard. After a while, I just stopped trying to be an ass all the time. You want to know what really broke me?"

My curiosity peaks and I nod "Tell me"

Reaching up, Landon cups my jaw, running his thumb over my bottom lip "Your mouth. The way you smiled at me broke me down. When you laughed it changed me little by little. It was my favorite sound. You were so sad all the time, but when you finally smiled and laugh, it always hit me hard."

I'm about to reply when I realize something "Was? You said my laugh was your favorite sound"

Chuckling, Landon leans in "Now, your moan is my favorite sound. And knowing that I make you moan is the best feeling in the world. So don't think about the beginning, because we both know it was horrible. This is our new beginning. Understand?"

I nod "Yes, I understand" Reaching forward, I wrap my arms around Landon, my naked body pressing against his.

After drying off and putting on some clean clothes, I lie down on the bed and soon I doze off. I don't fall into a deep sleep and I can still hear Landon on the room phone talking to someone. Despite sleeping so lightly, I can't seem to open my eyes. This is the most relaxation i've gotten in so long. I just want to take advantage of it. Some time later, I feel the bed dip and a set of arms pull me in. Wrapping my arms around Landon, I breathe in his scent as he rubs my back. "Go back to sleep" He mumbles.

"Are you going to get some sleep?" I whisper, knowing that he must be exhausted. I can tell he isn't as relaxed as me right now. I just wish I could help.

"I'm fine. I just want you to rest"

"I can't rest, knowing that you're tired." I finally open my eyes and he is looking down at me. Landon reaches up and brushes some of my hair behind my ear. "I've never had someone care so much about me before." He smiles, but It doesn't reach his eyes. I wish I could take all of his bad memories away. He doesn't deserve to feel the sorrow that he feels. Landon is a good man, but I have a feeling that guilt from his past keeps him from believing that. We've all done bad things in our life, but the only way we can let them go is allowed good things in and believing that past mistakes don't define us.

"Camilla, why are you crying?" Landon suddenly asks, pulling back to get a good look at me. Frowning, I reach up and touch my cheek, feeling a tear. "Oh, I didn't know I was"

"Tell me what's wrong?"

"I just....I just wish you could see how good you are. You deserve to be cared for and loved, but I don't think you feel that way. I believe that deep down you think you're a bad person. It's not true at all. It just makes me sad that I can't make those thoughts go away" Sniffing, I wipe away another tear.

Landon looks at me for a second, sighing "Cam, If anything, you are making me believe that i'm a good person. I've realized that if a girl as great as you trusts and believes in me then I must be doing something right. It's going to take a while to completely let those bad thoughts go, but with you they are becoming less important to me. Like i said before, you're my life now. I'm yours for as long as you want me."

Instead of reply, I just snuggle into him. "I love you, Landon."

"I love you too, baby" He mumbles, kissing the top of my head.

"Now, sleep, please. I can't take it that you're tired"

I hear Landon sigh as he sinks down under the covers. "Fine, but only for a little bit"

"That's all I ask" I say as I close my eyes to drift back off.

When I wake up, I see that Landon is still sleeping. So much for only sleeping for a little bit. He is out like a light. I knew he was exhausted. Lying there in his arms, I watch him sleep for a little while before my stomach starts growling. I haven't eaten since yesterday and now i'm starving. Decided to go find something to eat, I slip from under his arm and quietly put some clothes on. After i'm dressed, I leave a note by the bed before slipping out of the door. I get down to the front of the bed and breakfast, I instantly smell food cooking. "Excuse me" I call out, trying to find someone.

"In here, dear" The woman calls out at I follow her voice. When I get to the kitchen, she is standing by the stove stirring something in a pot. "I was wondering when one of you would come down for something to eat. I made some spaghetti and fresh garlic bread."

"Oh, that sounds wonderful" I touch my empty belly. The woman who tells me to call her Annie, fixes a tray of two plates before handing it to me to take upstairs. I carefully walk up, trying not to be a clutz for once in my life. Surprisingly, I make it to the room and Landon is still sleeping. Deciding to let him rest a little longer, I sit down at the desk, pulling my feet up as I eat my food, staring out the window. This really is a beautiful little town, wherever we are.

When I finish my food, I decided to wake Landon up before his gets cold. I kneel down beside the bed and run my fingers through his hair a bit. Landon stirs before turning off his back to face me. Running my finger tip down the bridge of his nose, his eyes open slightly. "Hey, sleepy head" I smile.

Groaning, Landon blinks a few times. "How long have I been sleep?"

"About 2 hours. I just woke not to long ago. I got you some food" I watch as Landon sits up, smoothing his loose hair back. Standing up, I grab his plate and pass it to him before sitting back by the window. A soft breeze blows in and I close my eyes, letting it hit my skin. "I've missed this" I mumble.

"Miss what?" Landon asks with a mouth full of spaghetti.

Giggling, I shake my head "Having a window open to just let air in." I've missed just being outside in the sun and stuff"

Landon doesn't reply as he continues to eat. When he is done, he takes the tray downstairs as I remain seated in the chair. I hear him come back in, but I don't turn around. Landon comes up behind me and leans over into my ear. "Want to go for a walk?"

I turn my head, frowning "A walk? Where?"

"Outside, silly. Where else?" Landon laughs as he grabs my shoes and kneels down to put them on my feet. "I didn't know if we could go out."

"Of course we can. Nothing is stopping us" When Landon smiles at me, a rise in giddiness takes over. Excited to finally be outside with no restrained, I get anxious waiting for Landon to put his shoes on. I personally think he was taking his precious time on purpose just to make me suffer. Finally when he's done, he takes me hand as we leave the room.

Outside, the warm sun hits me and I moan. "Oh my, this feels so good" I laugh, closing my eyes, soaking it in. Landon locks his fingers into mine as we start walking down the sidewalk, passing little shops. So happy to be out in the air, I feel like I want to look at everything, while Landon just looks at me, a small smile on his lips. "What are you smirking at?" I finally ask as we start walking through a little park.

"I've never seen you so happy before. It's nice to look at. You're radiant"

Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, I throw myself into his arms "I'm happy because I get to appreciate the simple things with you. People take for granted just how beautiful the world is. It's even more beautiful when you get to look at it with the one you love. That's what really makes me happy."

Pulling back from Landon, he reaches over into a bush and pulls a little flower from it. I watch as Landon sticks the flower behind my ear. "My little flower love child" He mumbles as he takes my hand in his. For once in a long time, I can see my future again and I can see it with Landon.