Chapter 28

Juliette's features heated as she recalled her heated lovemaking with Blaze in the library and then again when they snuck off to bed that night barely clothed. She smiled as the image of Blaze laughing at her nervous attempt to escape; he was the vision of male perfection. His hair tousled his chest bare and he was only clad in boxers, his unwanted clothing draped carelessly in his arm.

Even in the presence of the entire family for breakfast, she couldn't help but blush, she felt the intensity of someone's gaze and realised it was Blaze. He was staring at her boldly and her cheeks coloured soliciting a knowing smile from him.

"Blaze? Are you even listening to me?" Blaze attention was snapped back to the conversation at hand, not before being blessed with the sight of Juliette's smirk.

"I didn't know that I was required to answer seeing that you hadn't questioned me." He replied flatly to Emma. She rolled her eyes at him and continued.

"I was about to but I wanted to ensure that you were following me so far. Are you going with us for dinner with the florist?" She asked the one question after what felt like hours of explanation.

"Actually, Juliette and I have plans tonight." He was so casual, his voice clear and decisive. The entire table paused their conversations even Juliette stared at him wide eyed while he continued on as if he was neglected and not the centre of focus.

"That's lovely dear!" Joanne praised at the side of her husband who smiled in such a way that indicated that he was entertaining some sort of idea.

In the afternoon, Blaze took Juliette back to where they had their first date, but this time there was no emotions and desire to counter or resist and the night ran smoothly. Juliette never felt as happy as she did in the few days she came to be closer to Blaze. She felt as if this...whatever it was between them could go somewhere and she tingled excitedly with anticipation.

They walked back enveloped with laughter, their joy interrupted by the unwelcomed vibration that indicated that their conversation was to end. Blaze studied the screen and contemplated whether or not to answer the call.

"It may be important." Juliette encouraged and Blaze continued to wonder.

"Are you sure?"

Juliette rewarded him with an 'are you serious look' that Blaze used as further sway his decision.

"I'll be right back." He promised and walked off into the garden. Juliette so still that no one who ever believe that she was anything but statue. She followed his movement with her gaze until he was engulfed by shadows and she continued on inside.

Entering through the kitchen door, Juliette felt all the hairs at the back of her neck stand on end in pure fire. She immediately dismissed the feeling as paranoia. She took a step forward and her body remained glued to the floor, dread captivating her in a tight embrace. This time she swore she heard something.

She stilled and tried to focus. There it was! Voices. She was hearing voices, yet she had the worst feeling gripping her heart. She followed the muffled vibrations until she heard a male voice. She'd never heard such a tone being used in this household. She eased the door to the library open and the volume and aggression of the voice which was once muffled sounded through what Juliette would this to be the entire house.

Through the small crack she saw Mary standing against a wall, her eyes swollen with tears, she hunched over trying to shield herself from the force of the speaker's words, her eyes downcast. Juliette saw her body shake when the volume and tone of the speaker increased, Juliette couldn't see him, his back was to her and she immediately began to grow angry.

Juliette pulled the door fully open, not bothering to close it while she stalked over to the figures.

"You will obey me! I made it perfectly clear that you are not to see him! I see I shall have to punish you yet again!" He barked and the entire felt as if it shook.

"What's happening here?" Juliette invoked her stern demeanour and stopped midway when the figure turned around.

"Luke?" She breathed under her breath, she could see Mary's eyes widening in shook at her arrival.

He looked at her and there was no way this was the same man she meet and came to know in the past month and weeks. How he had claimed to love his fiancé and how much of a liar he's been!

His eye's gleamed with danger and Juliette knew that he would injure her if he was given reason. His shoulders slumped, his head cocked to the side and his jaw hard.

"Nothing that you should concern yourself with. Now leave!" He growled, but Juliette wasn't afraid of this bully, she spent her life dealing with people like him and she wouldn't allow him to continue his revolting behaviour.

"I am afraid I can't do that." She stood her ground.

"Luke, please don-" Mary began, her voice brittle.

"I wasn't speaking to you, remember your manners." He shouted at her and she quieted.

"You will leave," He prowled, closing the distance between him and Juliette. "or else you will also regret it. Shall I give you a taste of what you will receive if you do not heed me?" his voice was menacingly close, as was he.

When he was close enough and before he could connect the back of his hand with Juliette's face she rose her knee up and ensured that he felt the full blow to his manhood. Luke cringed back in pain and Juliette took the moment to deliver a punch to the side of his face.

She ran over to Mary, her nose and mouth splattered with her blood and Juliette wished that she'd hit him harder. During her examination of Mary, Juliette hadn't realised when Luke regained his strength and stalked after her, he grabbed hold of her arm and spun her to face him.

Juliette squealed in pain, she felt as if her bones were about to crush. He was pulled away from her with force that stretched her arm to its limit and she cried out in pain, only to find Blaze towering above her, his back towards her.

Juliette held her arm her vision clouding in agony.

Blaze heard the commotion on his way in doors and followed the sound in haste and curiosity. His wrath flared at the sight he was greeted with and he immediately got involved. He pulled Luke away from Juliette and the man stumbled backwards. Blaze took the moment to look at Juliette and then at his sister, she was bleeding and he felt his fists tighten at his sides. He turned his gaze back to Luke who had risen to his full height.

"Did you hit my sister?" the words come out through clenched teeth and Luke smiled, a mischievous gleam finding homage in his eyes.

"Don't worry it wasn't her first time." He spat out in disgust.

Luke stared at Blaze in defiance and false confidence. He walked closer to Blaze clearly believing that he would be able to do the man damage. Before he could deliver a single blow, Blaze floored him with a devastating blow, before he could recover; Blaze climbed atop of him and continued to connect skin against skin until he was unrecognisable. Blood oozed from his swollen face and yet Blaze continued to hit him, again and again.

Finally he removed himself from the unconscious body of Luke, he used his bloody hands to make a phone call and then he went to Mary and Juliette. His heart ached as she saw his little sister crying in the arms of Juliette, who was whispering words of support and encouragement, while stroking Mary's hair with motherly fingers.

He walked closer, his breath catching until he placed a supportive hand on her back. She pulled out of Juliette's embrace and looked at Blaze with such tearful eyes that he almost felt himself breaking under the weight of it all. She fell into his arms and he wrapped her in safely, his hand holding her head in place as she sobbed. Blazed closed his eyes shut and squeezed hoping the pain he felt would disappear, he hugged his sister tighter at the thought of her and that scoundrel. There would be no doubt; the wedding was off!