FIFTEEN: HOT. EVEN HOTTER.

FIFTEEN: HOT. EVEN HOTTER.
“Sir, I have news.”
 Xavier’s gaze shifted from the opened document on his tablet to Carlos, his fingers curling as he arched his brow at him.
 “One word about my father and you’ll lose your tongue,” he replied Carlos, meaning every word. Ever since news got out that he had recovered the deal with the Castellanos, his father had called him over a dozen times. Normally, Xavier would have picked the call to hear and get over whatever his father had to say- backhanded praises and twisted reminders of how much he still expected from him. but for some reason, he wasn’t in the mood to listen to his words. From him and especially not from someone else. “So, what is it?”
 “It’s about Juliet.”
 His briefly lowered head snapped up immediately. Ever since he sent her out of his house, he had ensured Carlos kept an eye on her. Every single day at exactly 11pm, he reported how her day went and if anything unusual had happened. His reports had varied from her hanging out with a school mate and ruining Damon’s attempt at getting close to her but none of his reports came before the stipulated time. “I’m listening.”
 “Her house is on fire.”
 Very few things got a reaction out of Xavier. His rivals getting in his way birthed irritation in him. a failed business deal brought about anger. But that news from Carlos gave life to an emotion he could swear he had never felt before.
 “What?” his words came out sharply. “What do you mean fire?”
 “I had someone watch her after she left college,” Carlos explained, Xavier’s knuckles already whitening. “Nothing was strange and he confirmed she got home safely. Until few minutes ago when-”
 Carlos paused to rearrange his words, sensing Xavier’s impatience swiftly. “It started about fifteen minutes ago. Firefighters arrived already but the fire is spreading faster than expected.”
 “Get the car ready,” Xavier had heard enough, immediately rising to his feet. “We’re leaving.”
  They were out of the building in under a minute. The door slammed shut, engine roaring to life, tires screeching as they pulled into traffic.
“Faster,” Xavier said as Carlos gripped the wheel. “Drive faster.”
“I’m already over the limit, sir.”
“Then go faster,” he could feel his patience getting tested. “Ten minutes.”
 Carlos didn’t dare refuse, the car pulling over in front of Juliet’s building in exactly ten minutes. The street was already a chaos by the time they got there. Firefighters moved in frantic coordination, shouting over one another as water slammed uselessly against flames that refused to die down. People stood clustered at a distance, watching the scene unfold in front of them.
 Xavier didn’t wait for Carlos to help him with the door before he stepped out, his feet striding towards the burning building. Happening with a speed quicker than lightening, a rumble suddenly came from the sky, rain following in seconds.
 The chaos became worse, the audience quickly running to take shelter from the rain. Xavier didn’t stop though, grabbing the first man on uniform he saw by the shoulder.
 “Where is she?”
 “What?” the man could barely hear him, struggling to see and hear clearly thanks to the rain. “Take shelter from the rain. We’re yet to recover everyone from the building but we promise we’d do our best.”
“Sir, you need to stay back! You can’t-”
Xavier ignored the frantic calls and immediately resumed walking towards the burning building. He took one step forward and another and just as he was about to take the final daring one, the front door burst open.
 Screams filled the air as someone stumbled out through the smoke and rain. Someone he figured out in less than a second.
Damon.
Xavier stopped his steps, his fists balling as he watched the scene unfold in front of him.
Damon’s clothes were soaked, his breathing rough, and in his arms—
Juliet.
Her body was limp, head resting against his shoulder, face pale beneath streaks of soot. She wasn’t moving, Damon’s arms wrapped around her as he walked out, gathering attention with every step he took.
Something sharp twisted in Xavier’s chest and before thinking, he moved.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Xavier snapped, striding toward them. “How are you here?”
Damon’s eyes flicked to him, unimpressed. He tightened his grip around Juliet and paused to reply Xavier. “That’s none of your business.”
“Put her down.”
Damon adjusted his grip, preparing to turn away but Xavier blocked him. “Move.”
Xavier stepped directly into his path, refusing to. “Hand her over.”
“What?” Damon let out a short, humorless laugh. “Have you forgotten? You don’t get to call the shots anymore. She no longer belongs to you.”
The words had barely left his mouth when Juliet stirred in his arms. Both their attention immediately shifted to her, watching her lashes flutter and then her brows furrowing.
Then her eyes opened and immediately filled with panic.
 “Get away from me!” she screamed suddenly, her hands immediately pushing against Damon’s chest, frantic and uncoordinated. “Don’t touch me. Put me down! Put me-”
 Damon stiffened, watching her violently try to break free from his grip. Her sudden screams and movements immediately drew attention, firefighters and the few soaked bystanders turning in their direction. “Juliet-”
Before he could finish, Xavier stepped forward, a slow smile curving his lips. He stretched his arms towards Damon, her screams getting louder as she tried to break free from Damon’s grip.
He reached out and took her from him, Juliet barely resisting. She allowed him carry her and the moment he wrapped his arms around her, went still- then collapsed into him entirely, fingers clutching at his coat like it was the only solid thing left in the world.
 “You’re right,” Xavier tightened his grip around her, her screams fading as she relaxed in his arms. “I don’t get to call the shots.”
He didn’t wait for an expression or response from Damon before turning to return to his car. The rain continued, beating both of them mercilessly until he got to his car, Carlos already on standby to help him with the door as they both got in.
The door slammed shut and the chaos outside became muffled. Juliet remained in his arms, no words coming from her. For the first few minutes, she just clung onto him and shivered, her body trembling in small, violent waves, like she was still trying to outrun the fire even now. Xavier felt it- felt it through the thin fabric of her clothes, through the way she clutched at his coat like letting go would send her straight back into the flames.
 He didn’t move. Didn’t hold her tighter. For a moment, it felt like even his breathing ceased until she spoke up again.
“I was asleep,” she whispered finally, voice breaking. “I was asleep.”
 Her fingers curled tighter.
“I opened my eyes and everything was burning. The ceiling- my bed- everything.” She sucked in a breath that came out uneven. “I thought I was dreaming. I thought if I closed my eyes again it would stop.”
Her grip slid up to his shoulders, desperate and unsteady. She pressed her face into his chest, words spilling out without order.
“I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I didn’t know where to go. I didn’t even know if anyone knew I was inside.”
Her voice cracked completely.
“I was so scared.”
Xavier stiffened. His hands hovered for a second before settling on her back, firm but restrained, like he wasn’t sure what he was allowed to do. He said nothing, jaw tight, eyes fixed straight ahead as if looking at her would cross some invisible line.
Juliet shifted closer anyway.
“I don’t understand why this keeps happening to me,” she said, frustration pouring through the fear now. “Every time I think things are finally normal, something else happens. Something worse.”
Her forehead pressed against his collarbone.
“I’m tired,” she whispered. “I’m so tired of being scared all the time. Why is my life so hard and complicated?”
That did it.
Xavier exhaled slowly, the sound controlled but strained. One hand slid up, fingers threading briefly into her damp hair before he stopped himself—resting his palm at the base of her neck instead.
“You’re safe,” he said quietly. “You’re fine now. Nothing’s going to happen to you anymore.”
Her sobs slowed but didn’t stop. She pressed closer, desperate, exhausted, overwhelmed. She sniffled then raised her head to meet his gaze, his palm gently guiding her.
 Neither of them uttered a single word, their eyes doing all the talking. Then slowly, before either of them could realize it, the space between them disappeared, their lips coming in contact suddenly.
 The kiss was sudden, filled with a form of urgency they didn’t dare to name. Juliet sent her hands to his hair, allowing all the fear from earlier fade into something hotter and messier. She clung onto him like she was scared she’d fall back into the fire if she let go and he did the same, his hands moving from her face to her waist, pulling her closer.
 Xavier responded to the kiss fast. So fast he didn’t give himself to think. So fast he couldn’t stop himself when he his hands told a different story than he’d have wanted.
 His mouth moved against hers, his restraint cracking in layers. The kiss turned demanding, breaths tangling, her body angling instinctively toward his as if the car had suddenly shrunk around them. She pressed her body harder against him, their wet clothes clinging, every inch of contact radiating heat.
His thumb brushed along her jaw, tilting her face just enough to deepen the kiss further. Juliet parted her lips, a soft sound she didn’t recognize escaping. She moved her fingers from his hair to his neck and his hands mirrored hers- fingers wrapping around her own neck, firm enough to pull her closer, tight with a controlled pressure that sent shivers down her spine.
 She let out a gasp as his lips suddenly left hers, moving towards her neck. He placed a soft kiss on her neck and sent his hands to her waist, his thumb moving in circles as they traced upwards to settle on her breast.
And that was when he stopped.  
Xavier pulled back abruptly, forehead resting against hers, breath uneven. His grip on her waist lingered for a second too long before loosening, like he had to force his hands to obey him.
 And then he looked away, Juliet catching the familiar expression on his face before he could completely turn away from her.