PROLOGUE:

I closed my eyes tightly. Axel’s kisses, gentle at first, grew more intense. They started on my lips—a light touch that left a burning sensation. Each movement of his lips seemed to have a life of its own, dancing on my skin, leaving a trail of heat and tingling. It wasn’t rough, wasn’t crude; it was careful, full of respect and desire.

His kisses descended, reaching my neck, his touch like fire against my skin. His breath was hot, sending shivers down my spine.

“I love your scent,” he murmured.

His words, like a spell, pulled me deeper into the moment.

His fingers traced a slow path from my shoulder down my arm, a featherlight caress that sent strange electricity through my body.

“A-Axel… Aahh!” A muffled moan escaped my lips.

His kisses moved lower, teasing, discovering, making my entire body shudder with sensations I had never felt before. It was new. Strange. Exhilarating.

The heat of his lips spread across my skin, igniting a fire that consumed me.

When he removed my clothes, a mix of shame and fear swelled in my chest, but the way he looked at me—with desire, with longing—silenced my hesitation. I moved to cover myself, but he stopped me.

“Don’t,” he whispered, his voice deep, reverent. “You’re beautiful.”

Our lips met again in a kiss that was hotter, bolder—charged with an unspoken hunger. Our tongues tangled, fighting for dominance, each moment sending ripples of pleasure through my body.

His hands roamed, tracing every curve, memorizing every inch of me. I tried to stifle my moans, to hold back, but my body betrayed me.

Because I was enjoying this.

I was enjoying him.

His body melted into mine, his warmth enveloping me. His kisses trailed from my lips, down my neck, to my chest, to my stomach. Each touch sent waves of pleasure and need surging through me, clouding my thoughts, drowning out everything except the way he made me feel.

I knew it was wrong. A mistake.

If they were still alive, they would be disappointed in me.

But in this moment, none of it mattered. The only thing that existed was him. Axel. The man I loved. And I was giving him everything.

In his arms, I forgot my doubts, my fears. In his presence, I felt safe—cherished in a way I had never known before.

And at this moment, I was ready to face all the consequences.

As long as I was with him.

His love, his warmth, his desire… it made me stronger. It made me whole.

And in his arms, in the arms of the man I loved, I believed I was safe.

But I was wrong.

Because outside, beyond the walls of this fleeting moment, something dangerous lurked in the shadows.

Waiting.

Watching.

And I had no idea that my world was about to shatter.

Mainit. Nakakabaliw. Parang nilamon ako ng apoy na hindi ko alam kung paano ko napasok.

Axel’s touch burned through my skin, each caress sending shivers down my spine. Ang bawat halik niya, bawat haplos, ay parang alon na bumabalot sa akin, hinihila ako sa isang dagat ng matinding pagnanasa at damdamin. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako nakarating sa ganitong punto—kung paano ako bumigay sa kanya nang ganito kabilis, pero wala nang atrasan.

His lips moved with purpose, traveling down my body, making me feel things I never thought were possible. Hindi lang ito simpleng init—para itong bulalakaw na bumagsak mula sa langit, sumasabog sa loob ko, nagpapakawala ng damdaming hindi ko maintindihan.

"Axel…" halos paungol kong tawag sa kanya, my voice shaking from the overwhelming sensation.

He looked up, his eyes dark with desire, but there was something else there. Something deeper. Hindi lang ito pisikal. Hindi lang ito pagnanasa. It was something more.

"You’re mine," he whispered, his voice raw, possessive.

And maybe I was.

Maybe I had always been his.

I reached out, tangling my fingers into his hair, pulling him closer. Gusto kong maramdaman siya, gusto kong isabuhay ang bawat segundo ng gabing ito. His warmth, his love, his everything.

Ang mundo sa labas ng kwartong ito ay wala nang halaga. Ang mga pangamba, takot, at alaala ng nakaraan—lahat ng iyon ay naglaho sa bawat haplos ni Axel. He was grounding me and setting me on fire at the same time.

Nang bumulong siya ng aking pangalan, halos mabaliw ako sa kiliti ng kanyang boses. His hands, his lips, his body—they were all consuming me.

At hindi ako tumutol.

Hindi ako lumaban.

Dahil sa kanya, sa lalaking mahal ko, wala akong ibang gustong gawin kundi ang ibigay ang sarili ko.

At ginawa ko nga.

Sa gabing ito, hindi lang katawan ko ang ipinagkaloob ko sa kanya—pati ang puso ko, ang kaluluwa ko.

At sa bawat minuto, sa bawat halik, sa bawat paghinga na magkasabay naming tinatanggap, isang bagay ang naging malinaw sa akin.

Axel wasn’t just my lover.

He was my home.

O at least, iyon ang akala ko.

Dahil nang magising ako kinabukasan, habang nakayakap pa rin sa akin si Axel, may isang bagay na hindi ko inaasahang mararamdaman—ang malamig na kilabot na gumapang sa aking balat.

Parang may aninong nakatingin.

Parang may panganib na nag-aabang.

And the worst part?

I didn’t even know what it was yet.