Chapter 21

Jules couldn't sit down, and neither could Ceaser. The TV was turned on to the news channel, the storm had caused a terrible accident and they were trying to get people to safety because the storm was getting worse in that area.

"What if they..." Jules stopped pacing and faced Ceaser.

He turned and walked to her

"No." He held her arms and shook her "Don't think that way. They're safe."

"But they could..."

"Jules, don't!" He raised his voice "My parents would never let anything happen to her. I promise." He reassured her.

Jules nodded her head trying to let his words sink in. She needed to believe everything was fine.

Ring! Ring!

Jules looked at Ceaser and saw he was lost in his thought with his gaze fixated on her.

Ring! Ring!

"Your phone." She said.

Ceaser released her arms and went to pick his phone from the couch.

"Dad, is everything alright?" Ceaser asked immediately he answered the call and put it on speakerphone.

"We're all ok." Eric said "There's been an accident and all the roads are blocked. The storm's getting worse."

Oh, thank God.

Jules said a quick prayer as she walked towards Ceaser.

"Yea we heard it on the news." Ceaser said, "What's going to happen now?"

Jules waited for Eric's reply.

"We'll have to turn around and look for a place to stay the night. The storm's only going to get worse."

Jules didn't know what to say. It was the only safe thing to do but Ivy.

"Inform Jules and extend our apologies for not getting Ivy back today," Eric said.

Ceaser looked at Jules who seemed lost in her thoughts.

"Okay dad, I'll do that. Be safe."

"Alright, son," Eric said before the line got cut.

Ceaser watched Jules as she stared at nothing in particular.

"Jules?"

Jules looked up at Ceaser, her heart was beating fast.

"Ivy's fine," Ceaser told her.

"I know." She said, "I just..." She shook her head "...nothing."

She's fine, Jules. She's safe.

She told herself as she exhaled her worries.

"Ok." She managed to get out with her shaky voice.

Ceaser tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear and smiled at her.

"I better get going then."

"What?"

"I'll be back tomorrow first thing in the morning."

"You can't leave." He said.

She turned to face him

"Why not?"

He raised his brow

"Because there's a storm. It's going to start raining heavily. You can't drive home in this weather."

"I'll get home before it starts raining." She told him and went to grab her bag.

And right on cue, it started raining heavily. Jules paused then slowly turned around and looked at Ceaser.

She could see he was trying so hard not to laugh but then that's what he ended up doing.

"It's not funny," She told him even though she had already begun to smile.

"It is." He said still laughing.

Jules joined him and dropped her bag back on the sofa. Ceaser stopped laughing as he watched Jules laugh.

She looked so beautiful.

Jules stopped laughing when she saw Ceaser watching her. He then walked towards her painfully slow that every step he took made Jules' heart pound. Her heart sped up as he drew closer, it was a surprise it hadn't popped out of her chest yet.

Ceaser stopped right in front of her and smiled that smile of his that made her want to melt to his feet. Jules didn't dare look at him for she feared she wouldn't be able to help herself. Ceaser reached up and lifted her face to look at him as his thumb brushed dangerously close to her lower lip.

"It's nice to hear you laugh."

Jules gulped as she couldn't help but look into those eyes that she had tried to avoid. She felt her lungs cry for air as she drowned in his eyes.

"You'll use the guest room upstairs," Ceaser said quickly before he did something stupid.

Wh-what?

Jules was seriously confused.

Ceaser led the way to the guest room which was bigger than Jules' room at home but of course, it was going to be bigger, the house was a freaking mansion for chrissakes.

Jules walked to the glass door leading to the room's balcony which was shut. She watched the rain hit the glass and the storm unfolding in front of her. Ivy came to her mind immediately and she sighed knowing Selene and Eric would no doubt take good care of her.

Ceaser went to his old room to get a few things for Jules to change into and he went back to hers. The door was still open when he got there and he walked in and stopped when he saw her looking out the balcony, he saw her shoulders lift in a silent sigh.

"Jules."

She turned around to him.

"Sorry. The door was open."

"Oh, it's okay. I was just..." She stopped.

"Thinking."

She nodded guiltily and he walked towards her.

"It's okay. I can't stop thinking either." He confessed "But now that I know they're all fine. I'm less...worried."

Jules looked at him with a hint of surprise on her face

"You were worried?" She asked.

"Of course." He said matter-of-factly "My family was out in the storm and I couldn't do anything but wait. I was...more than worried."

Family.

Family?

Of course Jules, his parents.

And just like he read her mind once again.

"And your daughter. I just hoped they were all safe." He smiled "Now that we know that they are; we need to rest. You look exhausted."

"You do too," Jules said.

He waved it away.

"I brought these for you. Thought you'd need something to change into."

That's when she noticed what he had in his hands.

She smiled

How thoughtful.

"Thanks." She collected it from him.

"I'm sorry I don't have ladies clothing in my closet." He smiled.

She smiled

"These will do." She said, "Thank you." She looked up at him and they just stood there looking at each other.

Ceaser didn't understand why anytime she was near, he wanted to touch her. He didn't stop himself as he reached out and touched the side of her face. Jules' eyes closed of their own free will on impulse and he clenched his jaw at how beautiful she got every time they were together. He moved closer to her, closing the space between them. He leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Goodnight Jules." He pulled away and left.

Jules kept her eyes closed till she heard the door shut.

Way to go Jules. She couldn't have been more obvious about how much she wanted him right there and then.

She shook her head and sighed.

So stupid!

Minutes later, she was showered and had changed into Ceaser's shirt not bothering with the shorts he had included because the shirt was long enough. She was cuddled up in the soft, warm bed and ready to sleep. She stared at the ceiling and waited for sleep to come.

One hour later, she was still in that same position doing the only thing she could do.

Think.

Not sure what her thoughts were exactly about, it was everywhere.

Ivy.

The accident.

Work.

Her life.

Ceaser.

She finally gave up, pushed the blanket off and swung her legs to the side of the bed and on the floor. She got out of bed and made her way downstairs to the kitchen.

She padded barefoot to the kitchen as quietly as she could. If she couldn't sleep, why waste her time in the bed. Why not get something to munch on and think as much as she wanted to. She passed the living room and dining room before she arrived at the kitchen which had its lights on. And surprisingly, Ceaser was there.

Ceaser sat on the stool in front of the kitchen island with his laptop in front of him.

Lucky sucker. At least he could do something productive with his time.

Jules thought.

That's when her eyes betrayed her and took a good look at his impeccable body. He was shirtless but he had ripped trousers on.

What a view.

Jules thought as she immediately felt naked with him in the same room as her.

She should have worn the shorts he had given her even if they were loose.

She turned around to leave when Ceaser cleared his throat.

"Going somewhere?"

She froze then turned around with a smile on her face.

Ceaser smiled at her cuteness.

She blushed in embarrassment and walked towards the fridge. She opened it and took out the jug of orange juice and poured it into a glass. She put the jug back into the fridge and drank. Ceaser watched her the entire time and she felt his gaze on her.

"Couldn't sleep?" He asked.

Jules shook her head with orange juice in her mouth.

"Me neither." He said, "Decided to get some things done instead of lying awake in bed."

Jules nodded and looked down at the glass in her hand.

"What's wrong Jules?" Ceaser asked when she didn't say anything or look at him.

She shook her head still not looking at him afraid he'd notice she was embarrassed. Ceaser pushed out of the stool and before Jules could move, he enveloped her in his warm embrace.

Was she still thinking about Ivy?

He wondered.

Jules relaxed in his arms and placed her palms on his naked chest which was doing unthinkable things to her mind.

They stayed that way for a moment.

"Your heart's beating really fast," Ceaser said into her hair

Jules smiled

"Yours too." Her hands went up slowly to his shoulders and she felt him stiffen.

"Jules...?" Ceaser said, almost like a warning.

"Hmm?" She answered closing her eyes as the sound of her name and his voice sent shivers through her like a tornado.

Silence filled the room but their insides were screaming at them.

"You look good in my shirt." He said.

Jules smiled.

Her hands went to his nape and up into his hair.

Ceaser clenched his jaw at the softness of her touch.

"Jules, what are you doing?" He asked painfully.

Jules removed her head from his chest and looked up at him.

"I don't know." She whispered, her heart beating a million miles a minute.

Ceaser couldn't help it anymore or rather he didn't want to.

Jules almost sighed when Ceaser's lips touched hers. It was painfully good and it left her wanting everything he could offer.

He demanded. She gave.

He ravished. She moaned.

He plunged. She craved.

His hands all over her. Hers pulled at him for more.

Lips on lips.

Hands on each other.

Body against body.

They gave into what the other wanted. What had driven them mad for days, they had finally given into it.

Desire.