KAKAPASOK pa lang nila sa malawak na hardin ng mga Villarama ay agad na nahigip ng kanyang mga mata si Niccola. Nakaramdam siya ng panibugho nang makita ang lalaking katabi nito. Ilang beses na niyang nakita ang lalaki sa paligid ng dalaga ngunit hindi niya alam ang ugnayan ng dalawa. She refused to tell him and he doesn't know why.
Nang magawi ang paningin ni Niccola sa entrada ay nakita niya ang dalawang taong kararating lang. Kumapit siya sa braso ng pinsan at lumakad pasalubong sa dalawa. Walang magawa ang lalaki kundi ang sumunod sa kanya.
"Happy birthday, Ate," Xylona greeted and kissed her on the cheek. Sabay abot sa regalong nakabalot sa magandang gift wrapper. "You look pretty po."
"Thank you, Xyxy."
"Where's your twin po?" Tinuro niya ang kinaroroonan ng kakambal at agad naman itong tumungo sa kinaroroonan ni Lucas.
Pagbaling niya kay Mason ay nakita niyang wala sa kanya ang atensiyon nito. Nagkatitigan ang dalawang lalaki at parehong walang emosyon ang mga mukha. She rolled her eyes in annoyance. Men.
Tumikhim siya upang kuhanin ang atensiyon ng dalawang lalaki at ipinakilala ang mga ito sa isa't isa.
"Aki, this is Mason Scott Clarkson. Mason, this is Achilles... my cousin."
Bahagyang umaliwalas ang mukha ni Mason. Inilahad nito ang mga kamay sa lalaking kaharap na agad naman nitong tinanggap.
"I heard things about you, Clarkson. The navy admiral spoke highly of you. When would you join the AFP?"
Ilang sandali pa ay tila ba may sariling mundo ang dalawang lalaki at tuluyan na siyang nakalimutan ng mga ito. They were both soldiers and they were very engrossed in talking about the military.
"Wow! I can't believe this," she murmured in annoyance.
Iiling-iling na iniwan niya ang dalawang lalaki na kung mag-usap ay tila ba matagal nang magkakilala.
Nilapitan niya ang ibang pinsan na nakakumpol sa isang mesa. It was a small celebration for her and her twin's twenty-ninth birthday. Tanging mga kapamilya at malalapit na kaibigan ang nandoon. Ang kanyang ina ang nag-organisa ng pagsasalong iyon. Kahit na iginiit niya rito na hindi na iyon kailangan ay hindi nagpapigil si Alessandra.
"Bakit nakasimangot ang pinakamaganda kong pinsan?" Inakbayan siya ni Tyler, na mas bata sa kanya ng ilang taon, nang makalapit siya sa mga ito.
"Hands off, Tyler. Hindi mo ako madadaan sa ganyan. It's a no."
Alam niya kung bakit umaakto ito ng ganoon. May kailangan ito sa kanya. He had been bugging her about it since yesterday.
"Since it's your birthday, you should do a good deed for your handsome cousin, Ate. You just have to talk to them, you know, have a chat with them over a cup of coffee—"
Napaigik ang pinsan ng sikuhin niya ito sa tiyan.
"No, I won't. Why did you drunk-drive and run at top speed? At nakabangga ka pa ng ibang sasakyan!"
He had been asking her for help for his driving incident. Her cousin had violated traffic rules. He was young and wild. Hindi mawawala ang mga kalokohan sa edad nito. But he had to pay for his action. Alam niyang hindi naman ito makukulong sa nangyari. Ngunit mai-impound ang kotse nito at hindi muna nito magagamit ang lisensiya. He had to pay fines too.
"I wasn't drunk. Nakainom lang, Ate, at hindi ko kasalanan na bigla nalang sumulpot ang sasakyang—"
"You better find a good lawyer, Ty."
Napakamot ng ulo si Tyler at napatingin sa nakakatanda nitong kapatid na si Red. Red was a lawyer. "Bro—"
"I'm busy."
Nanlulumong napaupo si Tyler nang marinig ang sagot ng nakakatandang kapatid. Naiiling na pinagmasdan ni Niccola ang pinsan. Tyler was the exact difference from Tyson Red. The latter was the serious type, whereas Tyler was the happy-go-lucky young lad.
"So, how are you and loverboy?"
"How are you and Harrison?" nakataas ang kilay na balik niya sa pinsang si Tara na ikinapula ng pisngi nito. "Speaking of the devil, he's heading towards here."
Nang makita ng dalaga ang papalapit na si Harrison ay patakbong tumungo ito sa loob ng bahay. Tara and Harry were complicated. They had been like that since time immemorial.
Lumipas ang mga oras at hanggang matapos ang kasiyahan ay hindi pa rin siya binabati o nilalapitan man lang ni Mason. She felt disappointed and hurt, she admit that to herself. May bahagi rin sa kanya na nalulungkot dahil doon. Hindi na ito nawalay kay Achilles simula nang magkakilala ang dalawa. The two men hit it off like house on fire.
Niccola spent those hours talking to her cousins and some friends. Also, she had been busy drinking her liquor because of frustration.
Lumapit lang si Mason sa kanya nang magpaalam ang mga itong aalis na. Ni hindi man lang siya nagawang batiin at ngitian ng hudyo! Nakadama siya ng inis sa lalaki. He's acting like a total jerk and she want to shout in anger.
Nang makaalis na ang lahat ng bisita ay nagpaalam na siya sa mga magulang na papanhik sa kanyang silid.
Agad na napansin ni Alessandra na wala sa mood anak, subalit hindi na niya ito tinanong.
"You're an asshole, Clarkson," yamot niyang usal habang naghahanda na sa pagtulog. Humanda ito sa kanya kinabukasan, hindi niya ito kakausapin at papansinin. Never!
Nakatulog siyang baon ang inis kay Mason.
NAPAUNGOL si Niccola nang maramdaman ang kiliti sa kanyang tainga. Iminulat niya ang mga mata at akmang sisigaw nang mapagtantong may lalaki sa kanyang ibabaw. Madaling naagapan ng lalaki ang kanyang bibig kaya hindi siya nakagawa ng ingay.
"Hey, it's me," he murmured, then played with her earlobe.
Nang makilala ang lalaking nakadagan sa kanya ay agad niyang kinagat ng malakas ang kamay nito na nakatakip sa kanyang bibig. Umungol ito nang makaramdam ng sakit dahil sa ginawa niyang pagkagat dito.
Binigyan niya si Mason ng masamang tingin nang pakawalan nito ang kanyang bibig. "What are you doing here?"
Dalawang oras ang itinulog niya bago siya nito binulabog ayon sa kanyang orasan na nasa bedside table. Nang mapatingin sa nakabukas na pinto patungo sa kanyang balkonahe ay nalaman niyang doon dumaan si Mason. He must've climbed the wall barehanded.
"Get off me, Mason."
"Shh... They will hear us. Silence, Princess."
Natigil sa pagproprotesta si Niccola nang siliin siya nito ng halik. She sighed and tried to ignore the effect of his lips on her, but she failed. She gave in and answered his kisses, her moan was muffled inside his mouth.
Dumako ang kamay ni Mason sa kanyang leeg at may naramdaman siyang malamig doon. That thing wound around her neck as if it belonged there.
"Happy birthday, my princess," he murmured while catching his breath.
"My birthday's over. Past twelve na, Mason." Itinulak niya ito at naupo sa kanyang kama. "Seems like you are more interested in Aki than me. Why you seem like you were best friends already."
"Why didn't you tell me that he was your cousin?"
Nakaramdam ng kiliti si Niccola nang patakan nito ng mumunting halik ang kanyang balikat, tumayo ang kanyang balahibo sa katawan.
She shrugged and glared at him all at once. "Kung alam ko lang na ganito ang kinalabasan, hindi ko nalang sana kayo ipinakilala sa isa't isa kanina. You were inseparable. Baka nagbago na ang taste mo and you prefer men now!"
Napasinghap si Niccola nang bigla siya nitong itulak pahiga sa kanyang kama at muling kumubabaw sa kanya, sabay diin sa katawan nito.
"Say that again or you'll be sorry," he muttered in roughness and passion. The intensity of the desire in his sapphires was melting her. It was as if telling her, no, more like commanding her to give in and beg him to pleasure her, wantonly.
She gulped when she felt her throat went dry.
"Y-you'll rape me again?"
"Yes, I'll rape you again... and again," sagot ni Mason na nakataas ang sulok ng mga labi.
Her lips twitched in a smile when she thought of something interesting and retaliating. She felt his muscle tightened when she grazed his arm with her fingers.
Pinaraanan niya ng daliri ang braso ni Mason patungo sa balikat. Hanggang sa pumaloob iyon sa malalambot nitong buhok. Hinila niya ito papalapit sa kanya, lumapat ang kanyang mga labi sa panga nito. Pinagapang niya iyon hanggang sa leeg nito habang wala itong kamalay malay na dumako ang kanyang kamay sa night table at dinampot ang posas na naroon.
Nang malingat ang binata ay buong puwersang itinulak niya ito hanggang sa mapahiga ito sa kanyang kama. Pagkatapos ay siya naman ang kumubabaw rito at mabilis na ipinosas ang kamay sa headboard.
"I like this way better," aniya habang nakaupo sa ibabaw ng tiyan ni Mason.
A triumphant smile engraved her lips when she saw him frowned in disbelief. Marahan niyang pinaglandas ang daliri sa dibdib nito na siyang lalong ikinaigtig ng mga muscles nito sa katawan.
Hinawi niya ang mahabang buhok patalikod. Her bare shoulder and her brassiere free breast were in full view beneath the thin satin.
Inilapit niya ang mukha sa mukha ni Mason at bumulong. "How is it to be chained in the bed? Feels good, right?"
Niccola smiled wickedly when she saw his Adam's apple moved and the man was slowly puffing.
"I can do what you did to me to get even."
"N-Niko, take the handcuff off. We'll talk."
"We'll do the talking later... my prince." Her smile grew wider, it almost tore her mouth.
Dahan-dahan niyang inilapat ang kanyang mga labi sa dibdib nito habang magkahinang ang kanilang mga mata. Pinaliguan niya iyon ng mga halik na may tunog. When her lips found his erect nipple she bit it in a not so gentle way. But instead of moaning in pain, he moaned in lust. "You like that?"
"Fuck, woman!"
She was kissing his jaw, his neck, and down to his broad chest. Marahan niyang itinaas ang balakang mula sa pagkakaupo sa tiyan ni Mason at tinungo ang harapan nito. She was slowly rubbing her mound in his crotch. Mason was hard as a rock.
Kung kailan puno na ng pagnanasa ang lalaki ay tsaka siya tumigil sa ginagawa. Umalis siya sa ibabaw rito at naupo sa kanyang kama paharap dito na awang ang mga labing nakatingin sa kanya. "That's your punishment." Tinapunan niya ng tingin ang pagkalalaki nitong namumukol sa harapan ng pantalon.
"You'll be the death of me. Get my hands off this handcuff!"
"No!" She disregarded the warning in his voice.
Nahiga siya sa tabi ni Mason at idinikit ang katawan dito. Idinantay niya ang binti sa binti nito at inihilig ang mukha sa malapad nitong dibdib. "Thank you for this." Ipinakita niya ang hawak na kuwintas, na inilagay nito sa kanyang leeg kanina. It was beautiful. It was a white gold necklace, its pendant was a crown.
"If you're really thankful, get this goddamn handcuff off of me!"
"Hmm..." She moaned and closed her eyes. "Don't be mistaken, I'm still angry at you... You're an asshole, Mason Scott Clarkson."
Pinakiramdaman ni Mason ang dalagang nakahiga sa kanyang dibdib. Base sa pantay nitong paghinga ay nakatulog na ito. Mason sighed and looked at her face, looking so serene and beautiful in her sleep, with a hint of a smile on her lips.
He was aware that his feelings towards her grew deeper and deeper as days passed by. After that night, when something happened between them, things had changed. They became comfortable with each other. They see each other often. Gusto niyang palagi itong nakikita, nakakasama at nahahawakan.
Mason had been slowly opening himself to her. For the past years of his life, he had been living alone. With his former job, he distanced himself from everyone. He never had someone like her beforehand. Hell, he didn't even know how to smile, but it felt easy when he's with her.
Unang kita palang niya kay Niccola ay nakuha na nito ang kanyang pansin. The woman was strong, empowered, smart, independent, and persistent and she talks a lot. He never had a boring moment with her.
Hindi niya maiwasang hindi mapaungol nang dumako ang kamay nito sa kanyang tiyan. This woman stirred him to his limit, he could die in pain and frustration.
"Lay down, soldier." How can he take care of it when he was handcuffed on the bed? He didn't die on the battlefield, his aching groin would kill him.