99. Her pain and solace

Roseline's POV

My body froze for a second when he engulfed me in a tight hug.

It came totally unexpectedly. I couldn't believe that he did it. Before this, he had always touched me this way only if he needed my body, only seeking physical satisfaction from it, only when he desired it. But today, everything felt different.

The hug was not for him or for his satisfaction, but it was for me—to comfort me, to make me feel protected, to assure me that I was not alone.

As he held me close, my ear pressing against his chest, I could hear his heart pounding loudly. His heart never thumps so loudly, even in the most intimate moments.

It surprised me to realize that he was scared too, perhaps frightened by the intensity of my emotions or scared for me to do something in the confinement of the four walls.

His vulnerability softened my heart even more, and the floodgates of my tears opened again, and I started crying hysterically. My sobs were silenced by his chest a bit, and my fists tightly