Chapter 24

Juliette missed the sweet warmth and allure of a bed. Mary's bachelorette went off without a hitch, but now Juliette was exhausted, she felt gravity pulling down on her eye lids as she tried to defy the natural force. In this twinkling of her senselessness, reflections of Blaze were easily allowed to penetrate her mind. All day she mentally kept him out but now she didn't have the brain power.

Juliette scanned the room, for someone who she knew was not here, but she did nevertheless. He eyes rested on a male figure in the dimness of the room, it wasn't the male figure she desired to see; it was Matt. He was sitting in a far corner, a glass of what Juliette assumed to be whisky, held loosely in his outstretched hand that was laying on his lap. Something was wrong! Juliette could sense it in his posture. She slid off her seat and began walking him his direction.

Her path was blocked by the tall lemon with the body of a model's, she wanted to scream in frustration; what could this woman want?

"Is there something I can help you with Diane?" Juliette asked as patiently as she could.

Diane hiccupped and Juliette was assaulted by the stench of alcohol. She glared at Juliette. "As a matter of fact. Can you tell me why Blaze chose you? What's so special about you?" Her words were slow and purposeful and Juliette knew that she meant to indicate that compared to Diane, she was just a priceless stone.

Juliette felt irritated, she was tired and confused and all she wanted was to ensure Matt was alright, but here was Diane trying her patience.

"I don't know Diane. That's a conversation you must have with Blaze." Juliette answered quickly and tried to walk around Diane, but she was once again blocked. She sighed heavily.

"But I am having it with you." Diane was insistent, her eyes glowing with hatred.

"Listen Diane I really don't have time for this." Juliette walked around her, only to have her arm gripped by what felt like an eagle's talons. She winced at the pain and knew that Diane drew blood from her upper arm.

"I am talking to you." Diane gritted her teeth and Juliette's temper rose to a dangerous level, she face Diane. "I don't give a damn if you're talking to me or not. Let go of my arm, or I swear I'll make you regret it when I mark that face of yours." Juliette's voice was deadly and Diane flinched at the sudden change in Juliette.

Who could blame her? She thought she was able to push Juliette around but what she didn't realise was the Juliette could be more forceful than Diane. It was a long time since she let herself feel this much anger, but she blamed it on the sleep deprivation. She was cranky when exhausted.

Juliette stared at Diane, who realised that Juliette was not bluffing. She released her arm and walked off. Juliette knew in the morning she would laugh at this scenario but right now, without the rest she craved, she would remain angry.

Juliette sat down next to Matt, before she could bring herself to speak, he revealed, "I told her Juliette." His eyes downcast, staring at his untouched glass of whiskey.

"What did she say?" the words left Juliette carefully.

"She feels the same, but-"

"Well that's great!" Juliette responded.

"No it's not. She said that despite her feelings she's still going through with her wedding." Matt revealed.

Juliette felt her heart sink; she really didn't know how to respond. She felt for Matt and Mary.

"I'm sorry." She whispered

He looked at her then, his eyes sad, "Thank you for persuading me to tell Mary, at least I know how she really feels." He smiled, his eyes averted to a distance.

"Blaze is here." He nodded behind Juliette and her heart began to race. She didn't dare turn around, she was embarrassed to. The scene in the library flashed across her mind and she contemplated leaving before she encountered him.

"You guys seem like the life of the party." It was too late; Blaze came up behind her and spoke to them. His hands resting on the back of her chair, she could feel the warmth radiating from his body. She couldn't help but fidget.

"If avoiding the party was the requirement." Matt responded and Juliette saw that he plastered a façade over his hurt. Blaze pulled out a chair and sat next to Juliette. Even now he still hadn't acknowledged her and it played on her mind.

Blaze tried his best not to make contact with Juliette, the need for her still coursed through his veins and even now he felt himself tensing at the thought of her. He was never a man to hold back his passion and desire for a woman, but this was a special case. He didn't want it to be rushed. He wanted to know she was ready for that step.

They were soon joined by Emma, Joanne, Diane and Danny who swore he was too tired to enjoy Luke's bachelor party at two in the morning. They all pulled chairs and sat in a make shift circle. Danny and Diane sitting opposite Blaze and Juliette.

Juliette couldn't help but notice the whispers between Danny and Diane, she was also pretty certain they were about her. Diane would look at her slyly and giggle while Danny would have a smug grin on his features. What Juliette ever saw in that man was a mystery.

"Max just loves Juliette, I have never seen him so attuned to someone he hardly knew before." Emma spoke to the group and only then Juliette realised that she had tuned it all out, only now picking up on the conversation.

Emma turned her attention to Juliette, "You will be a great mother one day, and I hope the children take your qualities." She hinted at Blaze, who looked at her with an affectionately annoyed expression.

Juliette tensed up, a tension she only ever felt at the mention of her having children.

"Didn't Juliette tell you?" Danny changed the mood of the conversation, before anyone had the time to respond he continued. "She can't have children; she's just a barren wasteland." His eyes glared and Juliette felt sick at the mention of her most feared flaw. She could feel Blaze tense at the side of her, slowing rising from his seat, she rested a hand on his arm and shook her head negatively, a small smile playing upon her lips.

"It's fine."

Emma, Matt and Joanna glared at Danny in disbelief. "It's a matter if she adopts, the child will still be hers." Emma gave Juliette a smile.

Blaze's gaze was bordering on death. He stared Danny down and only when Juliette excused herself did he reply. "She told me about that, but only someone really insecure about themselves would hate a woman because she is unable to reproduce. I don't see you breeding any offspring; your feminine qualities are quite useless." Blaze removed himself from his chair and walked off.

Only in the silence of the Library did he grip the reality of the situation. All he wanted was to be there for Juliette, his mind restricted him. What if he couldn't control himself? God why did Juliette stop him?

Avoiding all reason he found himself at the entrance of their door. He could hear the quite sobs coming from behind the door. He slightly pushed the door open and found Juliette at the edge of the bed, she instinctively wiped the tear that fell from her eyes and gave him a weak smile.

"Long night huh?" Her voice sounded so brittle and Blaze's heart ached, he had half a mind of going back down to Danny and showing him how pissed he became. He walked closer to her and sat beside her. "You don't have to pretend Juliette, I understand. I want you to be able to feel comfortable with me and if you need to cry then cry." He looked into her eyes and saw the freshly formed tears.

He wrapped his arms around her, burying her face into his chest, her body shaking with emotion.

Juliette felt drained from crying, all she wanted to do was sleep. Blaze helped her into bed, insisting that she lay down while he removed sat at the foot of the bed and removed her shoe. He then covered her and slipped into bed with her, burying her face in his chest once again as she fell into a dreamless sleep.