Chapter 4

Chapter Four

Flashback

“Which do you prefer?” I asked Niu. He was usually the one who picks his ties but today I made an effort to appear just a little interested in him, kahit na naiinis ako sa kanya kagabi. Our relationship was a bit complicated, being his wife has negative and positive sides. As the CEO and successor of the empire, he was expected to sire an heir, he asked for it, his parents too but, I really can’t put myself into that situation. And ever since I refused him, he changed.

Tiningnan niya ang mga hawak kong necktie at tinaasan ako ng kilay. Maybe he’s confused why I’m here attending him with his needs like a devoted wife, I cringe at that thought. “The blue one,” he answered. He continued with his work at hinayaan ko na. He’s going out of town again for a project presentation in Hongkong, he said he’ll be gone for a week.

“I’ll be in the kitchen,” paalam ko sa kanya. I glanced at the clock mounted at the wall, it’s already past eight in the morning. Naalala ko si Sebastian, maybe he’s awake already.

I always feel uncomfortable whenever that man is around, hindi ko alam pero sa tuwing nandiyan siya ay umiiwas talaga ako. It’s like his presence exudes so much danger, he’s like a predator and I’m his prey. Kaya naman sa tuwing may reunion o mga pagtitipon ang pamilyang Altamirano ay palagi akong lumalayo sa kanya, and he seemed to notice it because he was like teasing me always by subtly following me wherever I go.

“Manang, paki check nga po sa---” natigilan ako sa nakita. Broad shoulders covered with tattoos welcomed my vision. He was reaching something from the cupboard and the way the muscles in his back flexed as he moves shocked me. Nang hinarap ako nito ay nahigit ko ang hininga, the back was just an intro, mas malala pa pala ang makikita sa harap.

“Well, good morning my dear sister,” he greeted me. The way he said sister sounded so sexy and inviting. Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya, hindi makapagsalita dahil sa pagkabigla. He never really talked to me much, especially in that way.

“You know, it’s free.” Kumuha ito ng baso at naglagay ng orange juice, he sat at one of the counter stools, facing me.

“Huh?”

 Hindi ko siya maintindihan, anong sinasabi niya na free daw? ‘Yung orange juice?

He smirked and drank all the juice while his eyes focused on me, mula sa kinatatayuan ko ay kitang-kita ko kung paano gumalaw ang kanyang adam’s apple. I wanted to punish myself for taking time at staring at him. After he emptied the glass, he put it on the kitchen counter and he spread his arms as if offering himself to me.

“It’s free to ogle, drool even,” he said sexily.

My mouth opened to say something but not a single word was uttered, and I’m pretty sure I looked like an overripe tomato. Nakakahiya! Alam niyang nakatitig ako sa katawan niya kaya niya nasabi ‘yun. Agad akong tumalikod sa kanya at nagpunta sa kabilang dulo ng kusina. I wanted to put distance between us as much as I could.

“Magdamit ka nga, hindi ka dapat naglalakad dito ng nakahubad.” Nilabas ko mula sa ref ang gatas.

 Nag-alangan akong kumuha ng baso dahil nasa malapit niya ang cabinet. Lalapit na sana ako nang tumayo siya at kumuha ng baso mula sa lalagyan, natigilan ako sa ginawa niya. I thought it was for him, but he approached me, grabbed the milk from my hand at poured it into the glass. Natigilan ako nang inalok niya sa akin ang basong puno ng gatas.

I looked at his veiny arms, every bit of him screams masculinity and superiority. Like he was born to rule and be worshipped. From his arms, I looked up at him, and my breath faltered when his eyes met mine. He has a very hypnotic eye, sucking me into the deepest part of his mind.

Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay nang hindi ko kinuha ang baso, naka angat pa rin ang braso niya habang hawak ang baso. Lumunok ako at napipilitang kuhanin ang baso sa kanya, mabilisan kong ininum ang laman niyon at nilagay iyon sa counter.

“T-thanks,” I uttered. I was about to leave when he suddenly grabbed my right arm. Agad akong napatingin sa kanya at sa kamay niyang nakahawak sa akin. A surge of tingling feeling enveloped my whole body, and what shocked me more is I’ve never felt that kind of current when Niu touched me. Ngayon ko lang ito naramdaman.

Agad kong nilayo ang mga braso sa kanya pero hinigpitan niya ang hawak sa akin. On my second attempt, he just tightened his hold of me even more. My chest hurts because of the rapid heartbeat, it’s like it's going to explode anytime soon.

“Sebastian, please,” I begged him.

He pushed me a little bit and I was cornered in the sink. His massive body was in front of me and the distance between us was only inches apart that I could feel the heat radiating from his body.

“Nasa taas si Niu,” I told him. I planned to threaten him that his brother was just upstairs and if someone finds us in that position, it would create trouble.

But instead, he closed the distance between our bodies, leaned over my earlobe, and whispered in a breathy way, “it’s fine, this won’t take a minute.”

Mas lalong nagwala ang puso ko nang idiin niya pa lalo ang kanyang katawan sa akin at hinawakan ang baywang ko para mapirme ako. Malaki at mainit ang mga kamay niya.

I wanted to chastise myself for actually waiting for what he’s about to do. Tiningnan niya ako sa mga mata bago bumaba ang kanyang mga mata sa labi ko. I unconsciously licked my lips and that made him looked darker as if he’s hungry for something. Nanatili ang tingin nito sa labi ko bago itinaas niya ang kamay para pasadahan ng daliri niya ang labi ko.

His was so warm against my trembling lips, hindi ko alam kung nahalata niya ba iyon o hindi. Pinakita niya sa akin ang hinlalaki niya at nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ang bakas ng gatas doon, ibig sabihin ay iyon ang tinanggal niya sa labi ko.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang lumayo siya sa akin at nagsimula ng lumakad paalis ng kusina. I held into the edge of the sink for support, my knees suddenly became weak and wobbly. Tumalikod ako at pinaypayan ang sarili.

“Claire,” he called me.

He was standing beside the door, he raised his hand, and he sucked his thumb, the one he used to brush my lips.

I felt my core clenched at the sight of him sucking his thumb. Images of sucking and licking stormed my mind making it more sensitive down there. Agad na inipit ko ang mga hita para patigilin ang nadaramang init.

“It will not be my thumb the next time.” Iyon lang ang sinabi niya at lumabas na sa kusina.