~Zia~
“Give it back, X,” I hissed while I kept tugging on his suit jacket like a child asking for ice cream.
He merely chuckled, shaking his head, enjoying this torture he’s putting me through.
The sound of the gathering is getting clearer. Panic rose through my chest at realizing the seriousness of this situation I was in. This man’s determination about keeping my underwear is disturbing! He’ll put me in a compromising position, for fuck’s sake. I’m so exposed down there - not to mention - sensitive, wet, and still throbbing.
“X…” I pleaded, trying hard to keep up with his long strides. “Please-”
“Where did you two go?” Seeing Mom’s anxious face drizzled a cold shower over my features.
Thank you so much for your messages of inspiration and support. I love you guys ;) ~ So… did you expect that?
~Zia~ Since I was sixteen, I’ve looked forward to the day that I’ll get married to Calvin. I designed this wedding dress a week after I learned of our betrothal. That’s how excited I was. It’s a mirage of color between white champagne and nude fabric. Mom’s friend, Sylvia Marino, a well-known fashion designer, made this for me. She turned my messy design to captivate both a luxurious and bohemian vibe. Sylvia accentuated the V-neckline with handmade pleats and embroidered lace appliqué that trails from the bodice, straps to the keyhole back detail. The A-line ball gown skirt also bears the exact delicate details and forms an extravagant chapel length train. This was the only detail in my wedding that was purely my idea. Mom and Francine took care of everything apart from my dress, but a lot of things have changed
~Zia~ Xavier’s gesture baffled me. All I could do was gape at his back, headed to where Calvin was. My eyelids fluttered fast as if I had discomfort believing what’s happening today. Calvin lifted the beer to his lips, eyes passing glance at me and back to Xavier. I chewed on my lip, watching from afar as Xavier spoke to Calvin. It seems like they’re only having a brother-to-brother conversation from where I sat until Calvin shook his head. My hand gripped the edge of my seat when Xavier wrapped his arms around Calvin’s shoulder, pulling him away from the small crowd of guests. “Shit,” I hissed, standing on my feet. We held the reception at Francine’s newly purchased hotel and resort. From the direction Xavier took, they
~Zia~ We boarded a commercial plane. It’s surprising. I’ve always thought that Xavier lived a life of luxury. Our families both own airplanes and private jets, but commercial flights are a bit refreshing. I didn’t ask why. I just enjoyed the feel of Xavier’s hands holding mine. Xavier holds onto my passport and ticket, determined to keep me wondering where he’s taking me. I didn’t know we’re headed to Thailand until the pilot announced it. “Ko Samui?” I asked, biting my lip, sitting comfortably in our business class seats. Xavier hummed, “it’s a long flight. Get some rest.” I giggled in response, excitement flooding my system. ~~
~Zia~ He groaned, giving in to his desire, palming my breast, kneading both deliciously as he crushed his lips against mine. Gone was the gentle Xavier, replaced by this aroused beast I’m yet to get accustomed to. He kissed me, leaving my lips swollen, before scaling the columns of my neck. My hand rested on his shoulder, gripping him tight as I threw my head back, losing myself in his touch. “Oh, Xavier,” I moaned when his mouth clamped on my nipple, his fingers tweaking the other. He gave it a gentle bite before moving to the neglected one, setting my world into an uproar. I cried when he gave my pebbled bud a delectable bite. He grunted, licking his way down my stomach leading further down. While he gets closer to my sex, my breathing comes out shallow, moaning at the first touch of his warm tongue on my slit.
~Zia~ Most of the time, I overthink things before they ever happen. It’s like a sickness that has no cure. However, what transpired between Xavier and me is something that never crossed my mind. It’s mind-blowing, muscle-numbing, and heart-bursting… “What’s the verdict?” Xavier broke the silence, dominated by our ragged breathing. We’re still lying side by side. Rose petals scattered around the white sheets. Some stuck on my skin, a few petals flew on the floor through our heated moment, but I couldn’t care less. The room, although well ventilated by the open balcony, smelled of roses and sex. God. I just lost my virginity, and it felt… “Good,” I replied, surprised by the rawness of my voice.
~Zia~ I stopped pouting. Not voluntarily, though, but I don’t mind Xavier’s way of taking away my pout. A smile wanted to tear my face in half as we continued the drive after that mind-blowing kiss. ~~ I understood now why Xavier wanted me to put some decent clothes on. But it’s his fault for not telling me where we’re headed in the first place. Our first stop was to see Big Buddha Temple in Ko Samui District. We took pictures - Xavier took pictures of me, but I wanted a photo of us together as well. I asked a few tourists to take a picture of us. Xavier was a bit stiff in the first few shots, but I guess that was because of our arrangement. Still, I’m grateful that he didn’t turn down the idea. Next on the itinerary was
~Zia~ As the night dawned on the island, another face of the district came to life. In all the travels I’ve done before, it has always been Erik and me. Penny doesn’t really fancy the kind of fun I do when I go abroad. She only tags along when it’s a family trip arranged by my parents because then she knew that this is the tour she’d have. Chilling and relaxation was Penny’s kind of vacation, not the rush of all those extreme activities I get into. After that steamy incident by the pool, the tension between us vanished like a bubble popping in the air. It’s bewildering and alarming how easily I lose my focus around this man. Our relationship is like a switch. It goes on and off with a flick of a finger. We fight one minute, and we’re groping each other the next. We’r
~Zia~ The words he mumbled hang heavily between us. It’s as though someone had punched me in the gut, forcing out all the air from my lungs. “W-what?” the glass I’m holding almost slipped from my grasp. Xavier shook his head. From the reticent light, all I could make out was the absence of life and hope in his cold facade. I’m used to Xavier’s wall always surrounding him, but this is some other kind of isolation. It’s coiled with anger and loathing directed at no one but himself. I don’t know what he meant, but I won’t let this one go. With my free hand pressing on the door frame - keeping my balance - I turned and faced him fully. “Xavier, what do you mean?” He let out a breath, swaying his head in resignation, downing
~Zia~ About thirty minutes into the drive, Xavier parked in front of the cabin by the lake. My mind was somewhere else through the drive; another guilt feeling washed over me. This was our night together, and I pushed my worry about Lu and Penny aside for a bit. I just have to trust that they’ll work things out. Xavier slid out of the car; I took this chance to shake my worry away as he skirted over to my side, opening the door for me. Trees shadowed over us, creating a dancing pattern through their leaves as the sliver of the silver moon slipped between the gaps. The gentle purr of the summer wind made the small lights anchored from tree to tree swayed like sparkling stars within my reach. In my awe, I admired the cabin, small, cozy, made of glass and wood. Yellow l
~Zia~Like always, Xavier had everything planned out. We took a drive to Club Sky and met with our friends. I haven’t gone out with any of them since I gave birth to Franco. Sure, they visit our place often, sometimes for no apparent reason.Diego would pop up the most; he even had his things in the guest room since he’s been sleeping there a couple of nights a week. One time, I interrogated him about why he’s always in our place. I don’t mind having them over, but Diego is a pain in the ass. He whines when we run out of Batangas coffee. It’s cute. He’s a child that cries when there’s no cereal in the morning. And his response was even infuriating.‘You hoard the best coffee in town,’ was his nonchalant response. I pity the girl who would fall for this kid.
~Zia~My parents have been traveling back and forth from New York to Seattle for about two months now. They have the penthouse next to ours to their name. They wanted to be close to Franco. I mean, they even hold him longer than I do when they’re around. I only get to hold him when he’s hungry; where’s the justice in that?Mom and Dad were sitting in the living room, admiring Franco as he cooed, yawned, and fluttered his eyes because he was already sleepy.I stare at them from the kitchen, eating my salad with a pout on my lip. There’s a small part of me that feels a little possessive about my son. I knew my parents only wanted to be with their grandchild. They’ve been waiting for him excitedly, like Xavier and me. They’ve been deprived of this chance when Nadia lost her baby; now
~Zia~“Xavier!” I pressed my hand on my lower back, the other set under my huge belly, breathing in and out. The cramps were different. Dr. Shiovan told me I would know when it was time. And it’s damn time.Still in his pajamas, Xavier came rushing into our room with flour decorating the black apron around his neck. He was making a ravioli for me, my request last night, and he promised me he’d make his pasta for the dish, which became my go-to food in the third trimester of my pregnancy.“It’s time?” he asked, helping me up from the reading nook where I spent my entire morning.“Fuck,” I hissed, feeling another contraction. “He’s coming out.”Xavier&rsquo
~Zia~ It doesn’t matter if we are alive and breathing. The emptiness written all over our faces screams we lost more than what we gained. Xavier got out safely, but the manor didn’t survive the explosion. Part of our plan was to make the crime scene look like a gas leak under the estate, making it easier for our people in the government to investigate and conceal this chaos. There’ll be a lot of questions asked, and for the most part, everything we’ll say would be a lie. We headed back to the safe house to spend the night and tend to our wounded. Xavier was silent the entire drive; we all were, for that matter. He gave me a quick peck on the forehead when we got to our room and headed directly to the bathroom to clean up
~Zia~“Lu, Bo,” Xavier grunted, fighting his way through the hallway that led to the basement. “I really need you two to move your fucking asses now!”“This is a fucking sewage system!” Lu grunted. They had the job of setting up explosives under the manor. A big argument took over before the two agreed to do this. They wanted to be on Xavier’s side, to protect their boss and friend, but they had a bigger task at hand. “It would’ve been easier if we came in with you, you idiot!”Xavier grunted, taking cover on the busted wall of the hallway. A Luciano family portrait hangs above him, swaying with each wave of gunfire through the air.“Did you just call me an idiot?” Xavier chuckled.
~Zia~“Where is my grandson?” the man who slit Francine’s throat asked, his thick brows arched, head tilting to the side, seizing my husband up. Brown eyes, burning with a hunger for blood, starred into Xavier’s hues.Like what we expected, the moment Xavier stepped out of the car, armed men from the opposing side surrounded them. They’ll never play fair. We are mere pawns in his game of death, and he plays an award-winning role of a devil.Xavier glanced around at the men surrounding him as if they’re nothing but mere mortals, and he’s fucking above them.That’s my husband right there. He’d look death straight in the eyes and would never show a hint of fear. ‘Death should be afraid of me,’ that’s wh
~Zia~The sight that bombarded me when I descended the stairs puzzled me. I was expecting Xavier and Calvin to gut each other’s throat, not that I was hoping for it, but this was the least I predicted with everything that’s happened.Ammunition and firearms, from handguns, knives to assault rifles, are scattered everywhere I glance. Xavier, Mom, Dad, the rest of the team, my sister, and her people are arming themselves, wearing a mask of confidence.We’re going to war.A loud crashing of metal against the floor grabbed my attention from studying my family. I saw a glimpse of Calvin in the kitchen, arming himself with a bulletproof vest, surrounded by a few more of Nadia’s men.“Xavier,” I n
~Zia~Our lips moved against one another, gentle, searching and asking for anything to make us feel alive.The kiss wasn’t filled with lust. It was filled with the need for love, warmth, and hope in our world that has turned unrelenting and cold. We need each other to have and to hold, just like our vow, just like what this wedding band in our fingers meant.My hands gripped his shoulder tightly, holding on to him, unwilling to let go, to stay here with my husband.I seamed his lower lip, asking him to let me in. When his lips parted, I slid my tongue between them, begging him to lose himself in me. His hands came up to my hips, nails digging painfully, making me hiss against his mouth.“Zia…” Xavier