Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Cassandra's POV

Mom came to me and hugged me, "I'm so glad you could make it, dear," she said as she hugged Julian too. His dad came forward, he had the same facial features as Julian. "Honey, this is Cassandra, Jules' girl, isn't she cute?" Mom beamed at Julian's dad as I blushed. I loved the introduction. There was so much warmth in them unlike in the rich people I had come across. His dad came forward and shook hands with me. "Hello, dear," he said, "I hope you aren't underage! Please don't mind me asking you. Actually, you look so young," he said as he raised an eyebrow at Julian. “I hope she isn’t underage?” he asked his son who just grinned.

"Hello Mr. Henderson, No, no, I'm not underage, I'm twenty," I said nervously, wondering whether I really looked seventeen!

"Oh, thank God you're an adult," his mom said with a grin as Julian rolled his eyes at them, and at that point, my slow brain realized that they were pulling his leg!

"That’s good to hear. You can call me dad, just like Jules does," said Julian’s dad smiling at me, surprising me beyond words. I was sure that Julian might have told his family about me else who gives permission to address them so personally at the first meeting?

"Yes, dad," I said, smiling back at him, bowled over by his simplicity.

"Enjoy, I will see you in a while," he said as he went towards the reception room.

"Mom, I need to use the washroom, please," I whispered to Julian’s mom.

"Jules, take her to your room upstairs," she said with a smile, "Be down before dinner is over." With that, she grinned and went to the kitchen, leaving me tongue-tied as I tried hard to figure out what she just meant.

I turned pink with embarrassment as realization dawned upon me. "Just tell me the way and I can manage," I said to an over-enthusiastic Julian. I couldn't afford to reach the dining table when dinner was over!

"No way, darling," he said mischievously as he caught my wrist and started dragging me upstairs with him, much to my embarrassment.

"Hey, Jules, let her at least meet us. You can have her afterward," said Claire as everyone roared with laughter. I glared at Julian and extricated myself and went to meet everyone, hugging them one at a time. They hugged me back like a part of one big family. This was what I loved about his family. All of them accepted me unconditionally without judging me in any way.

I hugged gran and one look at her mischievous blue eye made me wonder what was going on in her mind. However, I didn't need to wait long and had just released her when she chuckled. "That's enough, now let her go before some parts of Julian turn blue," she said while everyone howled with laughter and I covered my face and ran upstairs. I was horrified to note that at this age gran could make crude jokes about blue balls with her grandchildren! They were such a weird but cute family!

"Thanks, gran, you're the only one who understands," Julian said with a wink and rushed after me.

He guided me to his childhood room and I ran to the en-suite before he could catch me. I leaned against the closed door to catch up with my erratic breathing and my racing heart. I've never been so embarrassed in all my life yet I couldn’t stop the smile from breaking out on my face. I loved Julian’s family!

When I came out, to my utmost horror he was sitting on the bed as if waiting to grab me the moment I emerged. He got up the moment he saw me and started walking towards me, like a predator towards his prey, with a smirk on his face. My heart raced faster and faster knowing his evil intentions. One look at his face was enough to guess that he wasn't about to leave me anytime soon.

"Please, Julian, not here," I said, trying to escape him but it was useless. I was trapped between him and the washroom door behind me. He stopped inches away, his eyes burning into mine, the intensity taking my breath away. "Everyone's waiting outside for us." His gaze didn't leave me for a single second and I knew that he had no intention of leaving me at all.

"You're mine, I can do anything, anywhere," he said as he pulled me into his arms, crushing me to his body. His hand went to my chin, and his thumb roughly caressed my lips. "I'm always hungry for you, darling, I can't get enough of you. Why do you do this to me?" He said as his mouth claimed mine as he kissed me passionately with a hungry need that robbed me of my senses. My arms seemed to have a mind of their own. They went around his neck as I caressed his soft silky hair. Just one kiss and I was already a mere putty in his hands. His hand roamed shamelessly up and down my body, making me tremble with need. I clung to him to save my jelly-like legs and kissed him back, eager to please him.

A knock on the door had us breaking apart as I rushed back into the bathroom and Julian opened the door. "Jules, are you done? I need you man," said Jason as he grinned mischievously.

"What for?" Asked Julian irritatedly.

"Mom wants us to get the drinks, as soon as possible," he said as Julian nodded and left with him. I wasted five more minutes and then went downstairs to join the others.

Anna and Stefan arrived late as they had a flat tyre. Adrian arrived with his gorgeous date, she looked barely 17 or 18. We had fun pulling his leg and I rolled my eyes inwardly realizing that this was the customary thing with Julian's family. They loved to tease and have fun! When Julian and Jason returned, we sat down to dinner. I was worried about Max and toyed with my food. Was he sleeping peacefully or crying from colic pain?

Julian noticed and asked for aunt Caroline's number and went out to call her to help me relax.

"Is everything alright honey," asked mom concerned.

"Yes, mom," I said as Julian came back and nodded at me with a smile. So Max was sleeping peacefully. I heaved a sigh of relief and ate my food, enjoying my meal. Mom smiled at me, happy to see all her children around her relax and enjoy the food.

After dinner when everyone left, Julian said, "Mom, dad, gran, we need to talk to you all." They all looked at us expecting us to maybe announce our wedding plans, but I know I had to tell them about Max. I wanted to tell them first before the others.

I fidgeted with my hands nervously, "I wanted to tell you all about myself," I said looking down.

"Oh honey, we've already accepted you into our family. Our Julian loves you, that's all that matters," mom said trying to comfort me.