WHEN Zoe’s lips met his lips, a bomb suddenly exploded inside her. The kiss is familiar, and so is his touch. She knew that her body recognized it.
He was the man whom she let have her that night two years ago. She can’t forget that tribal tattoo design covering his left chest and shoulder. The room that night is dim, but the tattoo shines through the dark.
She was sure that he was the man who took her virginity—yes, she lost it that night. It was clear as snow, but it was the memory she tried to forget. She was drunk. However, she still remembers what she did. She was at the counter at that time while waiting for her mom. She remembered clearly how she pulled the guy that passed by in front of her and suddenly kissed him. It was supposed to be a peck, but the guy caught her lips again.
She opened her eyes at the moment and pushed Helios away. Her chest was heavy panting while she stared at him.
“Now, you remembered me,” he said, and a smile formed on his lips.
“W-Why you didn’t tell me the moment—”
“I don’t want to. I want you to remember me by your will,” he replied as he met her gaze.
In Zoe’s eyes, confusion can be seen. “W-Why did you kiss me again?” she asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe I want to taste those lips again. You made me insane for the past years. And I had enough control not to get close to you—watching you from afar is enough—”
“Why do you have to do it? I am a stranger. It was just a one-night stand, Helios—”
“It is, but it is memorable. I remember how you rubbed your wetness on my navel—”
“Helios!” she warned, but the man just let out a soft chuckle.
“Why? Didn’t you enjoy that night too?”
“I was drunk,” she replied, which made Helios let out a mischievous smile.
“Really? Then why did you remember my tattoo? Well, maybe you’re drunk since it took you two days to remember—”
“It’s because you’re wearing long and half sleeves polo. And this is my second time seeing you—”
“Naked?” he interrupted, which made her roll her eyes.
“Half. Half-naked,” she corrected.
Helios formed a sly smirk on his lips and suddenly took off the towel that wrapped on his lower part, and Zoe’s eyes wanted to pop out of the socket when she saw his firm and hard shaft.
“Helios!” she exclaimed, but Helios just let out a soft chuckle and rushed towards her.
Surprise, she fell on the bed, and Helios leaned over as he put his hands on her both sides and met her eyes.
Zoe could feel the loud beats of her heart as she met his gaze. “H-Helios…” she mumbled. She wanted to push him away, but her body won’t cooperate.
“Zoe…” he whispered, wearing his deep velvety voice, which sent chills down Zoe’s body.
She tried her best not to look down. But damn herself when her eyes landed on his proud shaft.
“Loving the view?” Helios teased, which made Zoe get back her gaze into his.
“Stay away—”
She didn’t finish her words when Helios claimed her lips again. It was gentle at first, and when she kissed back, their kisses became rough.
Helios started to touch her from her face down to her neck until it went to her shoulder. Then suddenly, it changed direction; his hands went inside her blouse and caressed her flat tummy, which made her moan between their kisses.
She could see the fire growing and could feel the heat that it gave. His warm touch made her shiver. His kisses went down to her jaw, down to her neck as he pulled off her blouse and tossed it to the side, and she cursed herself inside her head because she didn’t even complain.
Helios stopped as he met her eyes, and all she ever wanted at that moment was to vanish. But she can’t because she has no magic.
His hand went into her left shoulder as he slowly pulled down the strap of her bra until his hand went on her back and lifted her up and pressed his lips again into hers.
Then came, he unclasped the hook of her bra and took it off her without breaking the kiss.
She moaned when she felt his warm palm envelope his right breast as his right hand went at the back of her head, and slowly, he leaned over, pushing Zoe onto the bed.
Soon as her back felt the cold velvety sheets, she moaned once again as his hand went above her breast and kneaded it gently.
While Helios nibbled her lips, she encircled her hands into his nape which deepened their kiss. He slightly bit her lower lip which made her gasp and part her lips. He then took that chance to dart his tongue inside her mouth and started to battle with her tongue.
A moan slipped from her mouth when Helios sucked her tongue gently and swirled it inside. Sooner, his hands tweaked his nipple in between his fingers, and his touch went down to her navel until he found the part of her cleft.
She was wearing pajamas, yet she could feel the warmth through his touch.
Helios gently rubbed his fingers into her mound behind her pajama as his lips went down to her neck, down to her shoulder, until his lips found her right nipple and started to nibble it. He swirls his tongue around her soft pinkish tips and then sucks it, which makes her shudder.
Her eyeballs rolled up, and she closed her eyes because the tingling sensation from Helios’s touch was slowly killing her.
Helios’s hand continues to rub her mound while his mouth is savoring her tip. He licked and kissed her left tip, then he ran his tongue on the other part of her breasts and put her right nipple inside his mouth. While savoring her tip, his hand went to the side of her pajama and pulled it off.
She gasped when she felt the coldness that came from the AC, but when Helios touched her again, heat evaded her body.
His hand went back to her mound and rubbed it. At the same time, he swirls his tongue down to her navel until it reaches the top of the garter of her panty. Slowly, he bit the strap and pulled it down, and let his hand do the rest until Zoe was naked.
Helios carried her and pushed her upward as he went on top of her in a swift move.
Zoe’s cheeks turned pinkish-red when they both locked their gazes on each other.
For goodness’ sake, they’re both naked.
She knew she was not that innocent, but damn, ‘how could things end up like this so quickly?’ She thought.
“You knew how much I control myself not to claim you—”
“You’re a coward then,” she interrupted, and she saw how lines were drawn into Helios’s forehead.
A sly smirk crept into his lips as he slowly leaned over and claimed her lips. Sooner, they found themselves exchanging rough kisses as if the wall in front of them broke. Their touches went wild.
Zoe mimicked him as he started to roam his hands all over her body. Her hand traveled into his nape, to his back, until it went into his chest as their kisses went deep.
And when Helios's kisses went down to her neck, she couldn't help herself not to moan out of pleasure. His kisses went down to her breast, and he licked her left tip again while Zoe trailed her fingers into the tattoo on his left shoulder .
She arched her body when his lips went down to her navel until she felt his warm breath in her between. She glanced down as she parted her legs to give Helios a better view of her mound.
Helios pulled himself up as he rubbed her clit, making her moan aloud. Then suddenly, he slid one finger inside her core. And a tint of pain registered on Zoe's face, but when he started to thrust his finger in and out, pleasure began to dive in immediately, easing the pain.
However, Helios's finger didn't last too long inside her core because he moved up and kneeled in her between; his hands enveloping her thighs and guiding his shaft towards her wet core. And started to delve deeper inside her—banging her hard and rough .
Zoe awoke beside Helios the following morning. Naked. She shook her head as she locked her gaze on Helios, who was sleeping peacefully beside her.She questioned herself at this point: how did she get in here?She was a typical college student who was only concerned with her studies and her mother. Her mother, whom she adores, attempted to sell her to a man—a murderous devil.However, how could she be certain Helios is not a mirror image of his father?Zoe sighed and was about to descend when she felt a warmth draw her.“Hey.”When she felt Helios’s breath land on her bare neck, she closed her eyes. She sighed as she turned to face him.Zoe smiled as she locked eyes with Helios. “Hey.”“I apologize for last night—”“No,” she said, shaking her head. “You are not required to be sorry. We both desired it,” she continued.Helios smiled and kissed her temple softly. His hands caressed her right cheek.“I’m reluctant to claim you, but I can’t help myself—”“I understand,” Zoe sighed. “Belie
THE following day, Zoe awoke early to prepare breakfast. She was aware that Nana Milky was present, but she insisted on completing the task on her own.“Have you seen Helios, Nana?” she inquired as she prepared to cut the white onions.Nana greeted her with a smile. “He departed at the crack of dawn. H he will be on a week-long business trip.”Zoe paused in her onion cutting and looked at Nana, baffled. She spent the entire day yesterday with Helios. As she was afraid to leave the house—prior to what happened recently—she chose to play board games after discovering a chessboard in the living room.How come Helios failed to inform her?“Didn’t he inform you?”Zoe sighed and gave a faint smile. She examined the onions that had been chopped. “No. Hmm... well, it’s his business,” she replied, her voice a little somber.Nana Milky approached her and took her hand in hers. “I’m certain he’ll call. Helios is always this way when he embarks on a journey.”Zoe pursed her lips and gave a slight
"IS that Zoe the commoner?”“Wow, she’s hot, dude!”“A commoner is always a commoner. Even if she wears luxury clothes.”“Right.”Zoe is aware that the people are eyeing her. Murmuring about her.Well, who wouldn’t?She was known to be the commoner. She has been bullied ever since because of her mother. But all of these, she tends to ignore.And she was quite aware that her entrance, with the two men beside her, walking with her, would literally catch attention.She stopped walking and faced the man on her right. “Maybe it would be best if you would wait for me in the parking lot? I know you understand my situation,” she said and smiled. However, she got no response.She looked to her left, and still, the other man had no response.‘Seriously?’ she thought.“Look, sir. You will put me in trouble if you don’t stay away—”“We need to follow sir Lincoln’s order, ma’am. I’m sorry,” finally the man on her right talked.Zoe pinched the bridge of her nose to calm herself. Afterward, she wand
ZOE was surprised when she woke up one morning. Helios was there, sitting beside her, and she bet he was staring at her, who-knows-when.It was a hell week for Zoe, dealing with other bullies, but she admits it and is beyond grateful because the queen, Mira Riverdale, was there to save her ass.“Hey,” Helios uttered and smiled at her.Zoe couldn’t still believe the things happening between them were too swift and seemed temporary.She moved herself up and leaned on the headboard, never leaving Helios’s gaze.“Since when did you arrive?”Helios crept a playful smirk on his lips. “Just this morning.”Zoe pressed her lips and sighed. “And how long have you been staring at me?”Helios let out a soft chuckle. “You have no idea—”“Just answer me, Helios. And I am not up for a joke.”Helios’s forehead creased and sat properly. “What’s with you, baby? Did I do something wrong?”Zoe took a deep breath and sighed. “I don’t know,” she shook her head, “—all of these seem so unreal, and it shouldn
“CONGRATULATIONS, ZOE!” Nana Milky greeted Zoe as she exited the stage.Zoe gave the elderly lady a genuine smile and hugged her. She then walked over to her mother, who was crying and standing on Nana Milky’s back.Iris couldn’t help but cry as she watched her daughter walk across the stage to receive her awards and diploma. Words can’t describe how proud and happy she was.“Mom…”Iris shook her head, and she couldn’t stop thinking about what happened a few weeks ago. She regretted everything, and she was grateful that Zoe had allowed her to attend her graduation.“Please accept my apologies—”“Shh…” Zoe rushed up to her and tightly hugged her. “—don’t blame yourself, mom,” she released her grip and smiled. “We all commit mistakes, and I forgave you. And all I ask is that you promise me one thing...”Iris bit her lower lip as she fixed her gaze on her daughter. She took Zoe’s hand in hers and squeezed it tightly as she met her gaze. “Please tell me, honey.”Zoe cracked a grin. “Promi
A FEW days after Zoe’s graduation, she decided to look for a job that suited her knowledge. The thing was, Nana knew about it, so she did tell Helios, and here she is, sitting in front of him while the man was staring at her.Zoe doesn’t know how to react, but she finds it awkward. She knew that Helios had confessed last time, and she rudely responded with it. She bit her lower lip and hemmed to clear her throat, catching Helios’s senses.“Uhm, is there anything wrong?” she asked.They were just a few distances away from each other, sitting in Helios’s living room, and she did hear his deep sigh.It seems like something is bothering him.“What’s wrong?” she asked once again.Helios took a deep breath once again and sighed. “I want to ask you one last time about—”“If this is about your proposal. I apologize, but I can’t give you what you want. I am still young and full of dreams, Helios. I am sorry.”Helios scoffed and arched his brow. “I see. I understand. I will not mention it once
THE COLD breeze of the wind shoves inside the window, waking up the sleeping beauty. The surrounding is still calm and could be deafening.Zoe stretched her arms upward and smiled before opening her eyes. Her eyes blinked twice, thrice, until she adjusted her vision to the light coming from the window.“What a lovely day,” she stated when she got up and sat. She looked pat through the window and saw the shades of the sky turning orange in delight.The sun is rising and ready to say HI to the world. Zoe knew today was a busy day. Of course, her first day of work. However, she couldn’t help but sigh as she got off of her bed. She opened the window and wandered her eyes around. And she let out a soft chuckle when she remembers that the AC is on. She then pulled back the window and waved the curtain to see the view.The trees are still calm this morning. She also saw birds flying as if they were also in a hurry for something, maybe finding a portion of food to eat.And, of course, she c
“THANK YOU,” Zoe said when the guards let her in. They may act a little bit rude to her earlier; she could understand it. Besides, Helios didn’t instruct them.Zoe heaved a deep sigh and cursed inside her mind when she walked toward the elevator. Ever since she has been an introvert, she will spend her time at school, at home, and vice versa. She’s not fond of socializing and seeing many people, making her feel a little bit anxious.At the same time, she was clueless. She might not be dumb, but she can still feel that jitters in her very first.It took her a couple of minutes before she reached the top floor of the building.The space on the top is vast, and every corner is well-furnished. The dim lights beamed in the hallway, and the indoor plants were quite refreshing to the eyes.The moment she saw Helios’s office, which is just at the center, right after she stepped out of the elevator, she took a deep breath to calm herself. She knocked thrice before she twisted the know and ente
ZOE’S POVStanding in the hallway, in front of the open door… is Helios. He was holding our daughter’s hand.Is my third eye open as well? I did the sign of a cross and closed my eyes. Lord, God, I may badly want to see him, but this shocked me. I opened my eyes, and he was still there.I also heard the seemingly suppressed laughter of those with me inside.He smiled at me, which made my heart thumps so fast that I could even overhear it. Astonishment registered on my face. Confused…What is this?"Mommy, daddy!" Hela shouted.I looked down at the bouquet of roses that he was holding. It has assorted colors.What’s going on? I turned my gaze to my parents to find an answer. But they just nodded.I backed away when Helios started to walk inward. Our daughter was still next to him, smiling. Helios’s face remains calm as he slowly walks toward me.He stopped a few inches away from me."Baby," his soft voice almost feels so unreal.I shook my head. My vision started to blur again. My hear
ZOE’S POVWhen we got inside the hospital, and inside Helios’s room, I fell on the floor, crying incessantly. They were all inside Helios’s room. Helios is already covered with a white blanket. The apparatuses are also gone.I no longer knew who had pulled me up and led me near him.He gave up!He didn't fight for me... for us.God never answered my prayers.Why?Why do I have to feel this agony?Why do I have to experience this epic romance? I thought things like this would just be in a movie.I immediately hugged his corpse.Corpse?No. I didn’t know what to feel as I hugged his body. Why didn’t he fight for me… for us? Why did he let this happen? Did he not miss us? He promised me. He’s a fighter, but why?“Why?! I screamed. “Why did you leave us? Why did you let go?! You promised that you were going to marry me. You’re being unfair! You’re leaving me alone again while I deliver our child. I want… I also wanted to you—"“Zoe, calm down. Breathe, sweetie. Slowly… Something might hap
ZOE’S POVSIX MONTHS.Six months had passed swiftly, but Helios was still not waking up. There’s still no progress. And I almost wanted to give up, but I knew he was trying to fight. He’s trying to come back for me… for us. And every single thought of losing him almost tears me apart.How many medications have been injected into him? I lost count.I pray every day, especially when I’m on his side, holding his hand, pressing it, and talking to him. I know there’s still hope. And I believe a miracle could exist.Our daughter turned one about a month ago. We celebrated it inside his room, trying to lighten the atmosphere that day, but even if we tried hard, we all knew we couldn’t. We can’t be happy, seeing Helios lying on this hospital bed, apparatuses plunged into some parts of his body and sleeping so sound that it gives a false alarm—that he will let go at any moment.Damn it! May God forgives me. Many people out there wanted to take themselves for useless things. Why should it be hi
“WHAT a cute family?!” shouted Bill and laughed. “Do you think things will be easy just like that? I’m not a fool, Helios. If I die, I will drag you down. And I’m going to take this building down. Now, let’s play, finding the bombs,” he said and grinned.“Helios...”Helios kissed Zoe on her forehead, “Everything’s going to be fine. Let’s get you out,” he said. “Don’t let them escape. Take all of them out of this building!”They were about to leave when Amanda screamed. Her sister’s attention was on Beige. Helios turned to them.“Sir, the bomb in him is activated,” one of the assassins said.“I told you. I’m not a fool, Helios!” shouted Bill, who the two men were holding.Her eyes widened as she trembled because of fear. The timer is only one minute and twenty seconds. Her eyes were enveloped by tears again, as she was afraid of what she was seeing. But Helios led her out. Her chest was heavy as she left the place.“Helios, where’s Sam and Cindy,” she asked between her sobs.“Grant to
BILL came out from an old room and laughed as he pointed a gun at Helios.“Hello, Helios,” he said demonically.The man stopped a few meters from where Helios was. “So, Helios… let’s start some convo, shall we? How are you, my brother?” asked Bill as the muzzle of the gun still aimed at Helios.On the other hand, Helios remained calm that even if he wanted to blow Bill’s head off, he couldn’t because his loved ones were inside.“I’m not your brother,” he replied emphatically.The man laughed. He put down his gun, and his men pointed theirs at Helios.Zoe wiggles and tries to speak even though Helios can’t understand them. Helios glanced at her, and pity registered in the young man’s eyes. And his heart pounded fast when he saw his daughter lying on a wooden table, sleeping as Bea patted her.“Do you like what you see, Helios?” asked Bill.Helios turned to Bill. “No. Let’s end this. Let them go, and you can have me. I’m the only one you need, right?” he said and gritted his teeth.Bill
“I’m begging, Bill. Please, let us go. And please, let me hold my daughter,” Zoe pleaded.Her heart was almost broken because of the constant crying of her daughter, who Bea was holding. They give her milk in the bottle, but her daughter is still dependent on her—she’s breastfeeding the child.How cruel will they be?“B-Bea, please, let me hold my daughter! Let me go!” Her voice was cracked, trying to hold back her tears. “Let me go… let me go,” she said, almost whispering.Bill just laughed while he could see her suffering. What a demon!“That’s right. Feel my wrath, Zoe—Helios’s kryptonite that can serve to be the source of his death,” he said and devilishly laughed along with her daughter’s loud cries.“L-Let me hold my daughter…” she said weakly. She felt dory for her daughter, who won’t stop crying.She doesn’t know where they are. They were immediately blindfolded when they saw the driver on their way to Batangas. When those demons removed their blindfolds, they saw tall trees.
HELIOS went out early to visit Grant’s twin brother, but those guards outside Gunner’s room were already dead when they arrived. They didn’t see any gunshots because all his men were drugged to death, and Gunner was missing.“Damn that, Bill!” Grant murmured as he punched the wall.Ali approached him and touched his left shoulder. “Calm down, Grant. Don’t let your rage eat you.”“How the shits I can calm down? He took Gun—he took my brother!”Helios then let Ali calm his cousin. He massages his temple. Bill is getting on his nerves.“He already found out that we knew his plan and Gunner’s betrayal! And I’m sure he’ll kill Gun! That psychopath will think that Gunner talked about his plans to us. Fuck!”"We need to go back," said Helios."Where to?" asked Calyx.“At home,” Helios replied and twitched the doorknob, and went out of the room. He pulled out his cell phone and called someone to remove the corpses inside the room before the police could see them.When he hung up, his phone ra
THE NEXT day, Helios and his friends leave early. Cindy and Sam decided then that they would stay for a while.“You didn’t come down last night, huh, Zoe? What did you do inside the room?” asked Cindy, carrying her daughter. After bathing her daughter and dressing her, Cindy immediately took the little girl.“Yeah. You left us with those jerks downstairs,” Sam complained while busy tying her shoelaces.Zoe was delighted that Sam could get along and erased the awkwardness.Zoe just shook her head and returned things to her daughter’s bag. “We just talked,” she replied.“Really? Just talking… no touching?” asked Cindy.She rolled her eyes and shook her head.“Ah, that’s why there are hickeys on the top of your left chest and neck?” asked Sam and grinned.“Oh. My. Gosh! Is that hickeys?” uttered Cindy and laughed along with Sam.At that time, she wants to be swallowed by the ground. When she finished, she acted as if she was not affected by the teasing from her friends.“We will be going
IT WAS ten o’clock in the evening when Helios got home. Zoe’s friend is still in the house, and both decided to do a sleepover. Hela Selene was already asleep upstairs. She’s with their maid named Bea.Helios went home not alone. He’s with this guy named Ali, together with Grant and Calyx. She smiled when she saw the reaction of her friend, Cindy. Cindy spits the water she’s drinking when she sees Calyx.They were busy watching when the men arrived. Cindy is at the edge where she back faces the main door—she didn’t expect the arrival of Calyx.Helios approached her and kissed her on the forehead. “Where’s Hela?” he asked.She was about to answer when Cindy and Sam started to tease her. They’ve repeatedly been saying the words, ‘long table’. At the same time, Helios's companions began to whistle.She shook her head and smiled. Then she looked at Helios again. “She’s already asleep. What took you so long?”Helios sat down beside her, and he put his arm around her. He leaned the back of