Στα δεκαοχτώ της, η Άλκηστις Βελλή έχει μάθει να ζει σαν σκιά. Να μην μιλάει, να μην δείχνεται, να μην προκαλεί την οργή του αλκοολικού πατέρα της. Μοναδικός της σκοπός στον κόσμο; Να προστατεύσει τη μικρή της αδερφή από την κόλαση του σπιτιού τους. Η αθωότητά της έχει πληγωθεί, τα φτερά της έχουν σπάσει προτού καν προλάβει να πετάξει. Όμως, η μοίρα έχει τα δικά της σχέδια και στον δρόμο της θα βρεθεί ο Ίωνας Στεργίου. Ο Ίωνας είναι είκοσι τεσσάρων χρονών, ένας άντρας σοβαρός, ανεξάρτητος και εντελώς ξένος προς εκείνη. Είναι ένας άντρας που δεν θα έπρεπε να κοιτάζει ένα κορίτσι σαν κι εκείνη. Όμως, ο Ίωνας βλέπει πίσω από τη σιωπή της. Και είναι έτοιμος να γίνει η ασπίδα της. Μια δραματική ιστορία για τα σημάδια που δεν φαίνονται, τη δύναμη της προστασίας και έναν έρωτα που γεννιέται σιωπηλά ανάμεσα σε δύο ξένους, ανατρέποντας τα πάντα.

Berkley and Dean had grown up together because their Dads were best friends and business partners. Even though they were total opposites, they became best friends too. They were so close they could finish each other's sentences and read each other's minds. When she lost her Mom, Dean was the one that helped her get through it. He had always been there for her when she needed him. He looked out for her and protected her from guys that had bad intentions, and she trusted him more than anyone else in the world. He even gave up going to Yale, his dream school, so he could go to college with her to make sure she was okay after losing her Mom. When she decided she wanted to lose her virginity, her roommate convinced her it should be with Dean because she wanted her first time to be with someone special, that she trusted. Who could be more special than her best friend? Dean refused because he said it would mess up their friendship, but when he found out that refusing meant she was going to do it with a guy he hated instead, he eventually gave in. He was so protective of her that he would do anything to keep her away from him. The deal was, they were going to do it one time and then go back to being just friends after and act like it never happened. The problem was, they didn't think through all the consequences that come along with having sex with your best friend. **** Warning! Very mature themes & sexual content - 18+ ***** Highest Rankings: #1 in Teen Romance out of 94,000 stories #6 in Romance out of 1.9 million stories. #4 in Love out of 2.2 million stories #1 in Friends to Lovers out of 19,000 stories #1 in Best Friends out of 112,000 stories. #1 in Teen Love out of 32,000 stories #1 in Complete out of 23,000 stories. #1 in Mystery-Thriller out of 22,500 #1 in Romance-Friendship out of 13,000 stories. #1 in Erotic Romance out of 11,000 stories #1 in Mystery Romance out of 3,600 stories #1 in Crush out of 63,700 stories #2 in College out of 87,000 stories