My finger trailed along the shelf from Dickens to Oscar Wilde. From Homer to F. Scott Fitzgerald. The only item that was not a book on the shelf was a small black velvet box right next to The Great Gatsby.

I was jealous of how organised his books were.

I could not believe he had the nerve to call me out for my love of books.

Something on his bed caught my eye and made me flick my attention from the shelf to his pillow.

My collection of Edgar Allan Poe poems was situated on top of his pillow. It was positioned perfectly on the cushioned surface like a rare artefact.

A deep voice pulled me out of my snooping "What are you doing?"

I froze where I was.

Stone was leaning against the door, taking up all of the space between the doorway. He watched me closely from his position at the entrance of the room.

Caught in the act, I put my hands up while exaggerating my innocence "I was just trying to find the bathroom."

His mouth went up in a smirk "Does this look like the bathroom to you?"

"No." I answered "It looks like a bedroom. A book nerd's bedroom."

He took a large step and stole the distance between us. His expression morphed to more of a serious one as he neared.

"What you said at the table." He said vaguely in his gruff voice that gave away that something was troubling him.

"About what?" I enquired before guessing "What I said about the bullying thing?"

He nodded, his jaw ticking in a rhythm as his chest puffed out like he was seconds away from ripping someone's head off.

I asked, "What about it?"

"The image of you hurt makes me deranged, Ella."

My head craned upwards so I could study his face as I took a step closer to him.

"What I would do to someone that had hurt you would land me in jail for a very long time." He informed me, his tone rough.

I neared him and noticed how his breaths were ragged like the very thought alone made him manic. I stepped forward and placed my hands on his chest in order to calm him down as I peered up at him.

Stone's darkened gaze softened as I laid my palms on his chest.

"My intention was never to hurt you." He voiced husky and lowly "You have to know that, Medusa."

I realised that the emotion along with his anger back at dinner was guilt. He had thought he had hurt me by teasing me.

"I know that, Lurch." I said softly.

His lip twitched once as his large, calloused hands went to my waist.

"I give out as good as I get." I smiled up at him.

The mouth of the giant twitched twice as he looked down at me with a soft gleam in his black orbs