I did not look up at him. I studied his hands as they tightened their grip under my legs and around my waist. He was holding on for dear life like he was afraid that l would disappear. I wrapped my arms around the back of his neck and buried my head into him. I still did not look at him. I could not.

I knew if I did then I would go back on my word and I would stay in his arms and never leave.

He reciprocated my action as he buried his face into my hair and inhaled deeply.

Stone pulled back and his touch moved under my chin "Ella, let me see you."

My head moved back away from his chest, but I did not look at him. I closed my eyes as he stroked my face and let out a deep breath.

After what felt like a good hour, he moved his hand that held my legs an inch and I could not help but let out a noise at the pain. That was when he also let out a noise that mimicked mine like he was hurting too.

He walked with me in his arms and then set me carefully down on the bed. Once he had made sure that I was comfortable, he let out another deep breath and stumbled back a few steps until he could study me fully.

That was the first time that I saw him properly since I had woken up. I started to feel my chest ache at the sight.

He was angry. No, he was worse. Stone was furious. He was not looking directly at me. His gaze dragged from my face to my marked arms and then my legs. The bone in his jaw kept ticking, like a bomb and it was about to go off.

His whole-body stance screamed predatory and gave away that he was enraged but his eyes were something else. If I had thought that I had seen him vulnerable before then it was nothing compared to what he was currently. His black irises were full of torment. The area around his eye was a bright red and his hair looked like he had run his hand through it far too many times.

Stone studied me briefly. It was like he could not bear to look. It was almost like seeing me in such a state caused him physical agony.

He eventually chose to meet my tear-filled eyes. The way he looked at me made me gulp. I could feel myself heat up as he took a step forward towards me.