For the first time in a long while, I felt warm and protected.

Another sob came from me and that only made him hold on tighter.

Even though I could not get my arms fully around his huge frame and even though he was holding onto me a little too tightly, it was my favourite hug ever.

I took a deep breath of his scent between my sobs. His presence was enough. The smell of leather and engine grease made me feel like nothing could touch me. Like nothing could hurt me.

His head hung down and his mouth nuzzled my hair as he demanded to know "Who did this to you?"

"I am okay." I released shakily "I am fine."

Stone's grip tightened and his words came out strained like he was the one hurt "Medusa, you are killing me here."

I clung to him tightly "Can you...can you just hold me?"

A few beats of his heart later and he huskily let out "Always."

Stone let go of me, but it was only for a second. He bent down and wrapped one of his arms around the back of my knees before he picked me up.

I wrapped my legs around his torso, and I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck while I rested my forehead on his shoulder.

One of the arms snaked around my waist. His other arm made its way up my back so that he could dip his fingers into my hair.

"I just need a few more seconds." I mumbled into his shoulder.

His hand cupped the back of my neck to hold my head in place. His rough calloused fingers caressed my hair and the back of my neck so that he could keep me cradled against him.

I sucked in a breath through my nose and pressed my face even closer into him. I held on tighter to him and I could feel how strong and immovable his hard muscled body was.

I had leaned more of my weight on him than I had ever let someone else hold. I let him support me more than anyone else ever had and he managed to hold me without an issue.

We stood like that for a while.

I closed my eyes and the same moment played over and over in my head. The image of the bottle hurtling towards me replayed over and over again.

My breathing started to become rapid. I felt like clutching my throat to get a better chance of receiving air. My heart pounded in my ear, and I felt the room close around me.

He rushed over to the sofa before setting me down. His two hands rested on my legs before he knelt down to see me better.

"Take deep breaths, Ella." His deep voice ordered frantically while he moved the hair out my face "You are okay. I have got you."