THE drive is silent.

Kuya Inggo doesn't touch her. Doesn't even look at her.

And yet...parang may electric charge holding them together despite the distance of their bodies in this car.

An electric charge na malapit nang sumabog.

Pinagpapawisan si Maureen. She swallows thickly and focuses her attention on the road, not on the veins on Kuya Inggo's arms while he drives or the line of his jaw or the broadness of his shoulders or the long fingers tapping the steering wheel.

Hanggang sa makarating sila sa unit niya, Maureen waits with bated breath, standing in between his desk and his bed.

Kuya Inggo steps forward, eyes on hers, and tosses his keys, phone, and wallet on the table. Then he takes off his cap and throws that aside as well, brushing his hand through his hair.

"Sit on the bed," utos niya in a quiet and calm voice.

He's not even smiling. It's as sexy as it is nerve-wracking.

"You're making me nervous," she admits, taking a step back when he takes another forward.

"Good. Sit on the bed."

She does.

Kuya Inggo goes to his drawer. He takes something out—something gold.

Then he turns to her and kneels down, taking her feet. Sinimulan niyang tanggalin ang sapatos niya.

Maureen opens her mouth. "I can—"

"Shh."

Hhhhhhhhhh.

Parang nag-melt lahat ng bones ng Maureen.

He takes off her shoes slowly and gently. Then his fingertips brush her right ankle, and something cold touches her skin.

"What's that?" Maureen whispers.

"An anklet with my name on it so it looks good on my shoulder."

Her lips part.

Isang maliit na IDP ang naka-engrave sa metal.

"E 'di parehas na kayong may anklet ng kuya mo," he says, still not letting go of her leg.

Maureen can't even find it in her to respond.

She watches his fingers trail along her calf and the back of her knee while Kuya Inggo watches her face. His big hand with his watch travels upward, kneading her thigh.

Then his other hand puts itself on her other leg, and all of his fingers crawl to the material of her shorts, slipping under them to trace the V of the inside of her thighs, dipping into her underwear.

"Inggo," Maureen gasps, her hand reaching out to clutch his shoulder. "Inggo, wait."

"No, I've waited long enough," he rasps, and then his lips cover hers.

Maureen sags into him as a deep groan rumbles from his chest to her mouth, kissing her while rubbing her through her underwear. His tongue swipes over her lip and Maureen gasps when he moves his teeth to her jaw and neck, sucking and biting. "I need you, Rinn," he groans, before pushing his finger inside.

"Inggo!"

"Christ, fuck, you're so wet." His lips go to her throat and chest before he pulls his finger away and sucks it. "Get on the bed. Now."

The urgency and the desperation in his voice makes Maureen scramble to the mattress, panting, watching him tower over her while taking off his shirt from the hem by the neck.

"Rinn, ako na boyfriend mo, 'di ba?" he murmurs against her mouth, pressing down his body on hers. "I need you to tell me. I need you to tell me you want me, to tell me you want to be with me to my face, para next time na may magtatatanong sa 'yo kung may boyfriend ka na ang sagot mo agad is putangina, oo."

Maureen is shaking in his arms from his hands and his mouth all over her. She doesn't even realize Inggo already pulled her blouse over her head, unhooked her bra with one hand, and is yanking off her shorts.

"Rinn," Inggo snaps, wild eyes finding hers, but his mouth and teeth are busy over the swells of her chest. He throws her her legs apart and palms her in between them. "Rinn, answer me."

"Yes, yes, I want you, I want to be with you," she rambles, eyes squeezing shut when he pushes his fingers inside again. "Of course I do, I want you, I always want you."

"Tangina," he groans into her ear, sucking her neck. He presses his fingers as deep as they would go. "Feel good, baby?"

"Mm."

"Open your eyes. Look at your fucking boyfriend."

Maureen does, her breaths shaky.

Oh, his face...he is absolutely ravenous.

Enraptured. Adoring.

He looks like he's in love with her.

"I've proved to you na sigurado ako sa 'yo," he says in his raspy voice, slowing his hand, driving her absolutely wild. His other continues its grip on her hip, her breasts, her throat. "Sabihin mong oo. Sabihin mong alam mo."

"I know, I know," Maureen nearly sobs, her entire body on fire. "Inggo, I know, please!"

"Come on my hand muna. Then I'll give you what you want, baby, I swear."

Oh, she does. All her insides throb violently as she clutches him, gasping for breath.

Kuya Inggo brushes her damp hair away from her face, cups her face with gentle hands, and kisses her.

His tongue explores her mouth and his hands stroke circles on her bare spine...unhurried. Tender. He's holding her like he can't believe he's holding her. "Perfect," he whispers in her mouth, kisses her again. "You're perfect and mine."

Maureen can't do it anymore. She cups him through his jeans, reveling in the hiss he releases at the contact. His wet mouth kisses a line down her chest as his pants and underwear comes off.

She can't believe he's hers, either.

Inggo puts on a condom. Then he grabs her legs and puts them on his shoulders. With his eyes locked on hers, he turns his head to kiss the new anklet on Maureen's skin. "Pretty?"

Maureen nods, feeling her eyes burn up.

"Baby." Inggo's thumb brushes her cheek. He kisses her sweetly. "I'm not going to leave you here tomorrow. I'm not going to leave you ever again. Tell me you know that."

The truth comes out easily from her mouth.

"I do," she cries. "I do."

"Tell me hindi ka magdadasal na mag-stay ako kasi alam mong gagawin ko," he whispers, still kissing her tears away, touching her with slow and gentle hands, revering her in a way he didn't before. "Tell me, Rinn."

"I won't pray," she whispers back. "I won't pray."

Inggo brushes the pad of his thumb on her cheek.

Then his hips surge forward, his hands gripping her ankles on his shoulders, and Maureen's back arches. "Inggo," she gasps, fisting the sheets.

He kisses her deeply and gasps, "Oh, fuck," in her mouth when he's worked himself all the way in. "Rinn, fuck."

"You feel so good," Maureen whimpers, shutting her eyes at the sensation. She's still crying, but for the reason of accommodating his size and thickness after more than a year.

"So tight," he whispers, rocking forward. Maureen groans into his mouth when he pulls out completely and pushes in deep again.

Her legs wrap around his waist as he grips her hips, rolling heavy, the weight of him pressing against her. Skin to skin. Chest to chest.

Kuya Inggo's eyes are locked on hers the whole time, his jaw clenched with every slow thrust. Maureen's hands run over his sweating back and bottom, pulling him in even though he's buried to the hilt already.

"Feel so good," he groans, barely able to restrain himself from slamming into her. "Tangina, putangina...Rinn, Rinn, tangina—"

"Inggo," Maureen cries, raking her nails into his shoulders. "Inggo—"

"That's a good girl, that's my girl, you're my girl," he whispers, pressing his palm onto her lower stomach to feel himself there. "Fuck!"

Maureen's second release shatters through her, tears rolling down her face.

Her poor heart and body can't take how he's worshipping her.

"I need to come," Inggo pants, his thrusts becoming more frantic.

She arches into him and kisses him.

Inggo groans loudly in her mouth before he tears himself out, pulls the condom off in one swift move, and holds her down while he paints her body white.

Then he collapses on top of her, his body hot, sweaty, and perfect. Maureen strokes his hair and his back, dizzy and drunk off the passion, wrapping her arms around him in a hug.

"Tangina," he mutters in her hair, still catching his breath.

Maureen's sanity is still hanging by a thread when he lifts himself up, kisses her once, and drags her body around. Maureen gasps when Inggo pushes her face down on the pillow and lifts her ass up, spreading her with his fingers.

"Sabi ko na nga ba ang sarap mo pa rin e," he mutters to himself, almost crazed, ready to go again. Kuya Inggo bends down and kisses her shoulder before he pushes in again.

Maureen fists the pillow. "Inggo," she sobs.

She knows he's smiling as he slowly inches himself inside her. "You better get used to calling me that kahit wala ako sa loob mo."

Maureen doesn't know how many times he took her. How many times he made love to her. How many times she cried his name and him hers.

Before they pass out in exhaustion, Kuya Inggo positions his knee between her legs and slides right in again, curling his arm around her waist, dragging her hips back and slowly fucking her with long, dragging and deep, thrusts.

His breaths are harsh exhales in her neck and shoulder, his free hand on her breasts. "You feel perfect, Rinn. Sikip, pota."

"Inggo..."

"Last na, baby, I promise," he rasps, gripping her waist. "Need you right here, need you to come for me again."

Kuya Inggo moves faster and Maureen latches on to his bicep, crying out. Then he aims at her thighs and spreads them all over her skin.

He exhales a shuddering breath against her neck.

Drowsy and absolutely drained, Maureen holds out her hand. "You are...absolutely insatiable."

Natawa ang boyfriend niya.

Boyfriend.

Oh my God, Inggo de Paz is my boyfriend.

He takes her hand for their handshake, then he brings it to his mouth and kisses each of her fingers...then her knuckles. "You can handle it," he whispers in return, turning her face towards him. "I'll take care of your heart, Rinn. It's safe with me now."

Maureen gives him a smile, cupping his cheek. "I know. Yours is safe with me, too."

He strokes her face and hair so reverently. Adoringly. "Go to sleep, baby," Kuya Inggo whispers. "I'll clean us up."

Maureen lets her exhaustion take over her.

And doesn't pray that he stays.