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23. Nightmares

Paige's POV

"No! Stop! Please!" A muffled voice filled my ears at my right and I turned to find a thrashing Landon.

Was he still asleep? I flipped over to glance at the clock on my phone. 3. It's so early.

"Please, no!" Landon's cries filled my ears once more. I rolled over and climbed on top of him so I could grab his shoulders.

"Landon!" I shook his upper arms gently at first, and then a bit harder as his cheeks filled with tears.

"Get off of me!" His eyes sprung open and his hands landed on my forearms to flip me back onto the bed.

My head connected with the wooden headboard and Landon's hands held my arms down at my sides.

"Ow, Landon! Stop, open your eyes!" I shook under his grip and wiggled one arm from his iron hold.

I put my hand around his wrist that was still clamped to my shoulder and pried it off. Landon opened his eyes slowly and looked down at me in disbelief.

"Paige?" His voice was low and his eyebrows crinkled together.

"Yes, it's me, it was just a nightmare. Shhhh," I lifted both hands to his face and pulled it down so he was directly in front of me.

"It's you?" He sighed and lowered his head into my neck.

I felt his arms snake around my naked body and pull me snug to him.

"You're alright, shhhh," I whispered into his ear.

His warm breath blew against my neck and I ran my fingers through his sweat drenched hair.

"It wasn't real, I'm right here," I cooed into his ear and he tightened his arms around me.

"Paige, thank you," he sighed heavily before lifting his head to look down at me.

"What for?" I questioned as his face softened.

"Waking me up. Usually there's nobody there to wake me up." Landon mumbled as he rubbed his eyes.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I whispered as I twisted the ends of his hair in my fingers.

Landon unwrapped his remaining arm from around me and turned over to rest on his elbow.

"I never usually have anybody to tell," his eyes downcast to the towels that had been wedged between us, "it's always different. Different scenarios, different ages. But it's the same belt." His voice was low and he tugged at the threads.

"You have me to tell, Landon. I'm right here," I grabbed the towels and threw them off the bed so that I could lean right up against him.

"I know, I know. It's just- I've never- I can't describe-" Landon stuttered and he tried to keep his eyes from meeting mine.

In one swift move, I turned him over onto his back and grabbed his face in my hands. His eyes widened in surprise and he held my hips as I lowered my face to his.

"You can tell me in five years or in five minutes, you don't have to tell me at all if you don't want to." I spoke slowly, as if to make sure that he understood each and every word.

Landon's beautiful green eyes finally met mine and he stared in them for what felt like forever before sighing and pulling me to his chest.

"I love you, Paige." His breath filled my ears and I wound my arms around his shoulders.

"I love you," I repeated, whispering into his ear as I tightened my arms around him.

"Why don't you say too?" Landon's quizzical voice filled my ears and he pulled my body away from his.