Chapter 12 - Cloud 9

JULIANA'S POV

A couple of days had passed since Tyberias admitted he liked me. But I hadn't had the time to confront him because he had been working a lot lately.

I rang the door bell to my mothers apartment, inpatient to see my mother and sister again.

The door opened and my mother smiled brightly as she saw me.

"Hey, we missed you" She said as she hugged me tightly.

"I missed you too" I said as I hugged her back.

"Where's Estella?" I asked.

"In her room playing with some toys" my mother replied and I quickly rushed to go see Estella.

I went in her room to see her playing with a Barbie doll. She quickly dropped it and ran over to me and hugged my legs.

"When did you get here?" She asked as I reached down to hug her.

"Just now"

I looked over at her bed surprised to see her pillows still there. Normally when I was still living here, she would bring her pillows and come sneak in my bed. I thought that now that I wasn't here anymore, she would go sleep with mom.

"Have you been sleeping on your own" I asked smiling due to how proud I was of her.

She nodded eagerly "Yeh I'm not scared anymore" she said excitedly.

"Wow! You're so brave" I cooed.

^-^ ^-^

30minutes later

I sat in the floor next to Estella as she poured me some imaginary tea into my tea cup.

"Girls, dinner is ready" said my mother as she poked her head through the door.

We nodded and got up to go eat.

"Oh, Juliana, I forgot to tell you, you got a delivery earlier today." Mom said. I frowned, I don't remember ordering anything

She went to bring me a gift box with my name on it that was wrapped neatly with a big bow tie on the top.

"Must be from someone special" my mother said, grinning suggestively.

I ignored her and opened the box hesitantly.

Inside, laid a bullet with a note with it.

I see you ignored my earlier warnings, Juliana. 

Very well, then.

The next bullet will be going inside you.

My face paled as I read the note.

"Mom, did you see who delivered this?" I asked, trying to hide my fear.

"Yeh, a blond man, he looked a couple years older than you. He was quite good looking if you ask me." She said and I nodded.

I pretended to check my phone.

"Mom, uh.. something came up. I need to go" I said as I began rushing away.

"What? At least eat something" my mom argued.

"I can't. It's really urgent. Sorry" I said as I began putting my shoes on.

I leaned down to give Estella a tight hug and went up to do the same to my mother.

"Love you both" I said as I walked out the door, holding the box. 

I finally let the tears run down my face. 

Someone wanted to kill me.

***

I wiped my tears away as I approached Tyberias' home office.

I lightly knocked on the door and slowly entered.

"Are you busy?" I said, my voice shaking, a tear escaping 

He quickly shot up from his chair as he saw the state I was in.

"What's wrong? Who hurt you?" He quickly asked as he came to stand in front of me and lightly held onto my arms, turning me to face him.

My hands shook as I slowly showed him the gift box I received.

He opened it up, frowning as he read it.

"I'll get someone to trace where this cane from and I'll make sure you always have a security guard with you. You don't need to worry." He reassured and I nodded slowly. I didn't know why but more tears fell from my eyes.

He disposed of the box and stood in front of me again.

He used his thumb to wipe the tears from my face.

"I'm scared" I finally said

"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you, Juliana. I mean it" he said and placed his forehead down on mine.

I nodded and buried my head in his chest and his arms instantly came around to engulf me. It was as if I was a jigsaw and he was the missing piece. 

I inhaled deeply, drowning in his scent. This was heaven.

In that moment of feeling him so close I was awake somehow, more alive than I have been in so very long. 

The world around me melted away as I wrapped my arms around his waist and tightly squeezed him back, not wanting the moment to end.

He slowly pulled away and stroked my cheek. I closed my eyes and slowly moved my hands up to lay on his chest. I slowly opened my eyes and looked into his ones.

I was in total admiration. I couldn't look away and I didn't want to. It was incredible, something I had never experienced.

I held my breath in anticipation as I saw him give me a look that was a perfect blend between sexy and adorable. It made my heart flutter, and my lips tremble. I saw his eyes gaze at my own, and noticed them slowly lower and fix on my lips, which fully exposed what he was planning to do. He slowly started to glance up and down , eyes to lips, and while doing so he slowly and patiently moved closer and closer to me.

He licked his lips before finally planting his lips on my awaiting ones. My heart pounded in my chest as my knees got weaker. My body heated up and I could only focus on how soft he felt against my mouth, how addictively he invaded all my senses.

Every breath I took smelt of Tyberias and I couldn't love it more, he scent was hypnotic beyond reason, it silenced my thoughts and made me want more.

The intensity of the kiss made me cling to the collar of his shirt, pulling him impossibly closer to me. I never wanted this feeling to end.

He slowly opened his mouth and licked my bottom lips. I gladly opened my mouth to allow his tongue to enter. I moaned in his mouth as I felt it against mine, exploring every corner of my mouth.

Feeling brave, I wrapped my lips around his tongue and lightly sucked. His groans were encouragement as I then proceeded to lightly bite on his lower lip and tugged on it lightly before letting go.

"Wow." I breathed out against his lips. He grinned at my reaction.

"Let's do it again" I said and quickly bought his face down to claim his lips once again.