JACKIE'S POV

I held my breath hoping that Julius would just leave me alone. All the while another tiny part of me begged for him to open the door so I could have someone to hold me. My father used to hold me and kiss my forehead to calm me down when I was little. Why do I even have these urges still? I'm a grown woman and -

Julius's face appeared as the doors were pulled back, his face lit up with a quick strike of death outside the window. My instincts shot my arms around his shoulders in a mad effort not to go insane.

"What the-?!" Julius cried, startled as he swayed back but otherwise held my weight. I shivered in his arms struggling to get past the tears pouring down my face. Why am I crying? This sucks... "J-Jackie?!"

"S-S-Sorry. I-I-I -," I struggled to explain my behavior but nothing coherent left my mouth. I'm too scared to even speak? Pathetic.

"Jackie, why are you so frightened?" Julius pressed trying to push me away. I tightened my grasp burying my face in his shoulder. I don't want to let go. More than anything I want him to hold me just like my father did. And even kiss-

"Is it because of the lightning?" He asked. I hesitated before rigorously nodding my head. Man...Julius remained silent for a moment as a sigh left his lips. "I see...such a troublesome woman."

He bent down slightly picking me up and carried me right out of the room. I kept my head buried in his shoulder not caring where he took me. I'm too scared to really care about anything right now. I trembled with the sobs causing a wreck in my body biting my lip to hold them back. I stiffened as he sat down on his work couch vigorously rubbing my backside. I struggled to cut off my tears but each and every lightning strike flared an old memory to the surface.

"You wretched little rat! You called the police on me?!" Mother screamed as she beat a box of cereal over my head.

I cringed a little deeper into his shoulder trying to cover myself with Julius's shielding body.

Mother's spatula cracked in half as the last swing was a bit too hard. I crumpled onto the ground in a sniveling fit, holding my bright red bum as she ripped out a pan from the cupboards.

I jumped, clenching my teeth as more unwelcomed tears ran down my face in an attempt to save themselves from the memory.

"Please...please...," I begged through my broken ribs as she dragged me down the stairs.

"Little trash like you deserve to sleep in the garbage -!" She screamed heaving me up and over the trash lip. "Don't you dare crawl out of there until mommy is done with her work!" She screamed, marching back inside to the man who gave her strange wrinkled green paper.

‡

"Mom...-!" I whined under my breath gripping Julius's jacket.

"Mom?" Julius asked, startled by my first word in an hour. I remained silent as I slumped against him, exhausted from the tears expelled. Since I hardly ever do this crying takes a lot out of me. His nimble fingers danced designs over my back as he encouraged a response and, when he sensed none was coming, sighed.

"There is no need to be frightened here. The lightning - and whatever else is going on in that head of yours - cannot reach you here...with me." He hesitated with the last part as his hand numbly rubbed my back dispelling some of the fear.

"Yeah...," I croaked drooping against him. My gosh crying takes a lot out of me. I hate this. But...I leaned into his comforting arms unable to deny the wonderful bliss that accompanied it. I feel so...secure. Like nothing will ever go wrong. It feels...nice...

JULIUS'S POV

Of all the things I could have predicted I never would have thought that she's afraid of lightning and thunder. And what was that about her mother? I glanced over to her face startled to see her in a deep sleep. Ah...she's fallen asleep. Good; my legs are in the same disposition and could use a break. I gently cradled her back trying to twist and lie her down on the couch. Her arms, even when succumbed to sleep, held fast without any sign of lighting up. In fact they seemed to tighten as a bodily response to me pushing her away.

I sighed giving up with trying to pry her off. She's like a leech; even in sleep I can't be rid of her annoying...lovely, beautiful presence. My hands ravished her soft back unable to hold back their desire to feel her warmth. She's so soft and warm; things I've never before been able to truly hold and appreciate like this. My nose glided along her jaw reveling in her alien scent. She smells quite good.

My teeth began to ache as I rested my head on her shoulder. No; not again. I can't. I tightly clenched my jaw hardly able to resist. What is it about her that makes my wires go on end? I almost can't help myself but feel her smooth skin, something I've never before had.

My naughty digits slipped over her wide supple hips reveling in their perfect shape. It feels so natural to hold her. This powerful, overwhelming sense to clutch her fragile presence closer...my hands encountered a wet spot making me retreat immediately. Ah...it's just her...pants? Oh! She was burned! I mentally bereted my foolishness. How could I forget? A soft rolling breath of hot air touching my neck reminded me of the distraction before me before I shook it off. What am I, an adolescent hitting his puberty that can't even handle such a simple task? How laughable.

My thumbs gently hooked the lip of her pants slipping the clothing off with some difficulty. Her smooth skin held my eyes as I ridded her of the pestering fabric forcing myself to examine her burn. It does not look too awful. A simple wrap and burn cream will do. I carefully jostled her on my lap stretching out her injured leg as I collected the necessary tools. The embarrassed flush never left my face as I applied the cream struggling not to concentrate too much.

My hand glided easily over her marble smooth skin sending many rather inappropriate thoughts sweltering in my head. I'm such a child if I cannot handle even this much. I reached back and quickly wrapped the burn to keep infections from getting into it. I carefully stuck the pins in releasing my pent up breath. There. Now all I need to do is move her before anyone -

"Julius...," she mumbled under her breath with a deep sigh. My clock skipped a tick as she nuzzled closer in her sleep. My name...she just said my name. She's dreaming about me? Or is she waking up? I carefully watched her face struggling to come up with an explanation as to why her pants are off. My word...I wasn't even thinking of how to explain this to her. My gaze glued to her silky soft legs as I found my hand absorbing their unnamed softness. Is this...the feel of a woman? It is quite...addicting.

I huffed and shook off my excitement, slipping off my jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. I need to stop with such perverted thoughts. What would she say if she were to discover my thoughts on her? I carefully slipped her arms through the sleeves, stiffening as her lips brushed over my throat. I shakily breathed out, swinging her legs to the side and laid her head on my shoulders. The movement, however, slipped her legs out of the jacket destroying the purpose of even having such a thing.

My unruly hands once more touched base on her thigh unable to stop myself. I leaned forward connecting our lips. So soft...I cannot remember the last time I've encountered something so desirable. My teeth ached terribly, quenched only with her flesh between them. I carefully navigated the gentle touches ensuring that there would be little markings to testify of my sins. I...why can I not help myself? It feels as though everything is so right though. Her in my arms, half clothes, soft under my hands and compliant despite her sleeping...I cannot help but feel that this is what is meant to be. So why can't it? My nose traced along her collarbone absorbing her lovely scent. What is wrong with me? I -

"Aw...starting without me again Julius?" I whipped my head back and around spying the knight leaning over the couch with a devilish grin.

"Ace -!" I began just before his hand clapped over my mouth, silencing my words. He leaned forward with half lidded eyes and a broad smile.

"Hush; you'll wake her up. How are you going to explain it if she wakes up without pants on and red marks on her neck like before? She'll get suspicious, love." He cruelly remarked slipping around the couch and took a seat. I tightened my grip on her. What is this knight planning to do to her? My clock guiltily ticked. Nothing that I haven't already performed yet, I'm sure... he reached forward, playing with a strand of her red bangs.

"What are you planning, knight?" I growled menacingly under my breath. He better not be planning anything. The thought put stinging bees in my mouth. I'm quite the hypocrite it seems...

"Don't worry Julius. I'm a knight; I won't steal from you." He ushered tucking the strand into place as he leaned back. Steal from me? I gazed at the knight, dumbfounded. What is he talking about?

"Explain your tom foolery." I quietly snapped stiffening as she mumbled something in her sleep one more.

"I'm a knight so therefore I won't touch her as long as you are the one she ends up with." He explained as he leaned forward kissing her on the forehead, "a parting gift from me to you~,"

"You just said you wouldn't do anything!" I nearly cried cringing as Jackie shifted. Ace smiled and again tugged on her hair; a little harder this time.

"I never said I wouldn't play with her now did I?" Ace teased with a grin. I heavily sighed clutching her unusually tightly. I'm not going to let him tease her as such so easily.

‡

Oh~ looks like Ace approves of the match. What do you think is going to happen after this? Is Jackie going to wake up pantless and in bed with Julius and Ace or will Julius find a way to worm himself out of this one? 10 REVIEWS for the next as usual~ Enjoy!