#DS6Unwavering #CirCoal #SharkFamily #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN: PARTY

CIRCE'S POV

3 months later...

When the jet landed at Harry Reid International Airport in Paradise, Nevada, almost everyone looked like they needed eight hours of sleep. Mukha rin silang hangover kahit wala naman sa amin ang uminom sa private jet na pag-aari ng pamilya ni Belaya. Even Mireia, who was used to traveling when she was a model, was contemplating acting like she was sick so someone would give her a wheelchair.

Hindi ko sila masisisi dahil lagpas kalahating araw naman kasi ang byahe namin. Kahit sabihin na nakaiwas kami sa hassle ng commercial flight at mas komportable ang byahe namin ay nakakapagod pa rin talaga.

The only ones who are still acting like humans and not real-life zombies are me, who loves to travel, Tala who's just like me, Luna who lives half her life on a plane because of her work, and Coal's older brothers, who were all still working during the flight. With the exemption of Trace nga lang na nasaid na ang energy. Hindi na nga lang kasalanan ng mahabang flight 'yon. Ang kulit niya kasi mula ng mag-take off kami kaya hindi nakakapagtakang ubos na ang batter niya.

We arrived around noon, and we headed straight to our hotel. Walang imikan ang lahat dahil mukhang natulog muna sila. I wanted to go out, but I restrained myself because I knew Coal wanted to rest, and there's no way he would let me wander alone in a city I'm not familiar with. So while Coal was sleeping, I decided to video call Kaise instead, who wasn't sleeping yet at that time.

The Dawson babies are all with Belaya's family right now. Except for Pami na kinuha agad ng pinsan ni Mireia na si Marthena at si Lucian Jr. na sinundo ng lolo niya.

I was a bit nervous about leaving Kaise with Belaya's parents. Hindi dahil sa kung ano pa man kundi dahil sa nahihiya ako sa kanila. Apat na araw din kasi kaming mawawala. But Mrs. Lawrence assured me that I don't have to worry because they love having her around.

Maging si Kaise ay parang nag-enjoy din sa isang beses niyang pag-overnight sa kanila dahil pagkababang pagkababa pa lang namin ng sasakyan ay tinatawag niya na ang ginang. She calls Mrs. Lawrence "Mimi" as if she were really her grandmother. Which warms my heart knowing that it's something that Coal and I couldn't give her.

Nakakabinging sigawan ang umagaw sa atensyon ko. A new song blasted from the speakers around the place, and new performers entered the stage.

Ang mga kasama kong kaninang umaga ay parang mga wala ng kaluluwa ay buhay na buhay ngayon habang nagtatawanan. There's nothing funny going on on the stage, but we're all giggling like virginal teenagers.

Mga nakainom na rin kasi talaga kami. We were all drinking in the limousine that picked us up at the hotel.

Mireia pointed at something. "That's a sock!"

Belaya nodded in agreement. "I think so— ahh!"

Lahat kami napatili nang tanggalin nang lalaking sumasayaw sa harapan namin ang pang ibaba niyang suot. Nope. Definitely not a sock.

Humahagikhik na sumubsob ako sa leeg ni Coal para hindi ko makita ang bigay todong lalaki na gumigiling sa stage. We are sitting in the front row, so our seats are close to the stage. Literal na about kamay namin ang mga performers.

I felt someone touch my cheek, but it disappeared quickly when Coal moved. Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay nakita ko ang nakaharang na braso ni Coal sa akin. The man on stage gave us a smile and nodded.

The club we're at is only six kilometers away from the airport. It's a respectable entertainment club. Marami ring mga bouncer para matiyak ang kaligtasan ng mga performer at customer. Of course, a lot of people are drinking, so some could be rowdy, but the security of the place is evident, and they seem to take care of everyone.

There's a no-touch policy, so the guests can't be handsy with the performers unless they initiate it. Pero kung sakali man ay ang performer ang nag-ga-guide kung saan lang sila pwedeng humawak. The guests can't touch them, but the performers can touch the customers.

The crown and the bride's sash I'm wearing are probably the reasons why the performer tried to touch me. Bachelorettes are often given special treatment.

Kinuha ko ang wallet ni Coal mula sa bulsa niya at kumuha ako ro'n ng ilang dollar bills. The man thrust his hips, but I moved my hand away and shook my head. I don't want to throw the bills at him. He seems like a cool person.

The man beamed and took off his firefighter hat to offer it to me. I let out a giggle, and I dropped the money in the hat. He saluted and winked before carrying on with his routine.

Coal whispered in my ear. "You just paid a stripper with my money."

"Nakalimutan ko ang wallet ko." I gestured to my dress with my hand. "I can't bring my wallet anyway. Masyadong malaki ang bag ko para dalin at wala rin akong dala na purse. My wallet can't fit inside this dress because it's too tight."

Pinasadahan ni Coal ng tingin ang damit ko. I'm wearing a white glittering tube bodycon dress with peekaboos on each hip. It's tight and short, and it shows a lot of skin.

Nang makita kong nakatitig pa rin sa damit ko si Coal ay pinagapang ko ang kamay ko sa balikat niya. I lifted up my right leg and placed it on top of his to tease him. "You like it?"

Natatawang napatili ako nang bilang sagot ay inangat niya ako mula sa kinauupuan ko. He settled me on his lap, and my back went straight when I felt something nudging me.

Heat spread on my cheeks when his breath tickled the side of my face. He wasn't hard, but he's definitely carrying a semi. "What do you think?" he murmured.

Damn. All these performers with their oiled bodies and Coal are still the only ones who can ignite a fire inside me with a snap of a finger.

"Woah."

Domino's whisper of surprise took my attention from Coal. I followed the direction of his stare, and my jaw dropped to the floor when I saw a female stripper gyrating on the stage.

Napahalakhak si Belaya. "Mireia tinalo ka!"

"Wow!" Mireia exclaimed. "Are those an E?"

Tala shook her head. "More like an F."

"Or a G." Nanlalaki ang mga mata na sabi ko habang pinapanood ang babae. She's stunning. She also looks like she can dominate a man with one look. "You can probably grow a plant on her bra cup."

Coal chuckled at my verbal diarrhea. I have long stopped trying to reign in my words. Kanina pa ako walang filter dahil sadiyang madulas na ang dila ko. I'm far from the edge of being tipsy and on my way to being drunk.

"Di ba?" tanong ko sa binata.

I turned to look at him, but he wasn't looking at the woman. In fact, he barely looked at them. Katulad lang din ng mga kapatid niya at ng brother-in-law niya. Domino's the only one having the time of his life.

Magnus looks like he'd rather sleep than watch what's happening in front of us. In fact, mukha ngang tulog na ang kalahati ng utak niya.

Gun's attention was on his wife almost all evening. Half the time, he's busy giving the performers a death glare whenever they try to approach Lia. Babae man o lalaki. Pierce, on the other hand, is busy eyeing Belaya's sexy high-heeled pumps and her legs that are showing from her halter mini black dress. The only time that he looked at the stage was when Belaya, who was leaning on his chest and perfectly comfortable having her husband's arms wrapped around her, used his own hands to clap for the performers.

Si Axel naman mas pinagkaabalahan na lang ang mga pagkain na nakahain sa harapan namin. His red ears are the only sign that he knows where he is and what's happening around him. Like Gun and Coal, the only time he interacted with the performers was when they tried to touch Mireia.

Thorn, on the other hand, is also busy watching his wife. Not because he's worried for her, but because he's worried for the entire club. Mukha kasing kapag hindi niya binantayan ang asawa niya ay baka makita na lang namin sa stage si Lucienne at nakikisali. She's amazed at the fact that the stage is full of money lying around, and she's been fangirling over the women and their ability to maneuver a pole.

Trace was the only one, aside from Domino, who was watching the stage intently. I would have worried for his life, except Ember didn't look bothered by it. Para ngang relax na relax pa siya habang pinapanood ang asawa na nakatulala sa mga performer.

It was minutes later that I realized why he was watching the performance with rapt attention. He grinned and turned to his wife. "Kabisado ko na ang dance moves nila. Mamaya ah?"

Tinawanan lang siya ni Ember lalo na nang sabihin ni Trace na kung sasagutin kaya siya ng mga dancer kapag tinanong niya kung saan nila nabili ang "costume" nila.

It's fun to witness the confidence of the Dawson women. Most people will lose their minds with jealousy, but they're not a bit bothered about their husbands being in a strip club. I understand them because that's the way I feel about Coal.

I trust him now more than I thought I did before. Siguro dahil noon mas lamang na naging problema ay ang insecurity ko kesa ang tiwala ko sa kaniya.

I can't say that I wouldn't be jealous, the same way I doubt the Dawson women won't ever feel jealous. It will all come down to transparency. Isa sa dahilan kung bakit wala sa aming mga babae ang nagrereact ng negatibo ay dahil kasama naman kami.

Sa ibang pagkakataon naman hindi naman kasi ang magkakapatid ang problema. Mas issue iyong mga babaeng nasa paligid nila lalo na kapag may iba silang intensyon. I bet the men weren't jealous about their women looking at other men as well. They're acting more out of possessiveness than jealousy.

"That dude is the dude of all dudes," Luna said, pointing in one direction. "Parang kapag pinitik ka niya magkakalasog-lasog ka." Ngumiwi siya at umiling. "No offense, but it doesn't look proportionate to the rest of him."

Napatawa ako nang makita ko ang malaking lalaking gumigiling-giling sa gitna ng stage. He looks like a linebacker.

"He looks hot, but I've never been attracted to men like that," Belaya mused before turning to her husband. "Right?"

Pierce chuckled. "Have I ever been attracted to a man like that? No."

"No. Silly," she laughed. "I don't even know why I asked you." Kinalabit niya si Mireia. "Ano sa tingin mo?"

"Nah. Ang gusto ko lang 'yung lalaking kaya akong ihagis sa kama hindi iyong kaya akong balian." She ran the tip of her finger on Axel's earlobe. "My Bun Bun perfected the art of throwing me on the bed. I don't need anyone else."

The men groaned while we women burst into a fit of giggles.

A naughty smile spread on Lia's lips when we turned to her, something that doesn't usually come out of her elegant self. Pinadaanan niya ng kamay ang dibdib ni Gun pababa at baka kung saan pa umabot iyon kung hindi lang nasalo ng lalaki ang kamay niya. "Gun's already bigger than life. I've never been interested in ripped bodies until it's Gun's that I'm looking at."

Nagtatanong na tinaasan ko ng kilay si Tala at ngumisi siya. "Depende. We wouldn't work out though. Wala akong planong tumira rito sa Vegas at duda ako kung kikitain niya sa Pilipinas ang kinikita niya rito."

"He's interesting." Nilingon ni Ember si Trace na nagpapaawang tumingin sa kaniya. "But I'm more into a muscled, beautiful men. Man to be exact. One that looked like a Greek god rather than a man who looks like the half of a Minotaur."

"Kawawa ka naman Trace," napapalatak na sabi ni Lucienne. "Naghahanap pala ng Greek god si Ember kaso si Cerberus ka."

Pinaningkitan siya ng mga mata ng lalaki na tumingin sa kapatid. "Kuya Thorn napansin mo na si Lucienne lang ang walang comment tungkol kay half Minotaur? Nililibang ka lang niyan pero sa susunod sila na ang inspirasyon niya sa mga libro niya."

"Hoy Cerberus! Huwag kang fake news diyan." Yumakap si Lucienne sa braso ng asawa. "Kayang paiyakin ng Bossing Thorn ko ang lahat ng tao dito kapag naghubad siya. Maraming mawawalan ng trabaho, babagsak ang ekonomiya, at maraming taong magugutom." Nag-angat ng mukha ang babae sa asawa. "Sobra na ang pamumuri ko sa'yo, Bossing Thorn. Baka naman pwedeng sayawan mo rin ako mamaya."

Dinutdot lang ni Thorn ang noo niya. When she pouted, the man pulled her close and kissed the tip of her nose. We women let out an "aww" while the men have their own versions of disgust on their faces.

"How about you?" My gaze went to Coal, and I saw him already looking at me. "Are you interested in men like that?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Coal's ripped just like his brothers.They're active people who gain their fit bodies through experience. I know they all work out, but they're not the kind of people who spend almost the whole day at the gym. "Muscles na nilagyan ng kaunting tao?" I grimaced as I watched the man hold the back of a guest's head and act like he's being given a blowjob. He seems more touchy than the rest of her co-dancers. "He reminds me of Geodude, so no."

"Geodude?" he asked.

"Iyong nasa Pokemon."

Coal threw his head back to laugh, and I couldn't stop myself from joining him. Anong magagawa ko? Iyon ang una kong naisip eh.

"Magkano kaya ang kinikita nila no?" Lucienne eyed the stage where a woman was currently rolling around the floor. "Literal na humihiga sila sa pera."

"Maawa ka sa kapatid ko, Lush," napapailing na sabi ni Luna. "Ang aga pa para atakihin sa puso si Kuya."

Thorn looks like his blood is rising. Lucienne just grinned at him before she patted his shoulders. "Don't worry, Bossing Thorn. Next time iwan natin sa mga kapatid mo sina Cookie at IC. Pwede naman tayong mag-withdraw ng pera tapos batuhin mo rin ako."

I chuckled when the man's expression changed. This time, he looks highly interested.

"Curious lang ako kasi parang ang gandang isulat." Tinapik ng babae si Domino na nagniningning ang mga mata habang nanonood sa mga kaganapan sa harapan namin. "Mamikot ka nga ng stripper. Para may ma-interview ako."

"Ngayon na ba? Pwedeng dalawa— aray!"

Napahagikhik ako. Basta na lang kasining piningot ni Lucienne ang bunsong lalaking Dawson. "Nevermind. Nakalimutan kong hayok ka na palang magkaroon ng love life. Saka dalawa ka riyan? Tigil-tigilan mo 'yan Domino. Isusumbong kita sa Mama mo. Sige ka lalo kang hindi papadalhan no'n ng The One."

They look so cute. Lucienne sounded like a big sister.

Ngumuso ang lalaki. "Joke lang naman."

"What if dancer nga ang mahanap mo no, Domino?" sabi ko habang nakapalumbaba. "Pero hindi stripper. A stripper will only fit with your... Dominoness." I knew he knew what I was hinting at when his eyebrow went up. "Iyong matimtiman na dalaga. Graceful and moves like a beautiful swan."

"May ganoon bang dancer?" tanong niya at nilingon ang stage.

"Meron. Pero kung dito ka maghahanap baka hindi mo makita."

Humaba ang nguso niya at humalukipkip siya. I can only imagine what would happen when he finally found his "one". Mamimiss siguro namin ang pagiging ganito niya. Iyong bunsong Domino na makulit at fan boy ng lahat.

Because when that time comes, the rest of the qualities of a Dawson inside him will wake up. Those that only rise from their slumber when they find the reason for their existence. Iyong tao na kakailangan niyang protektahan at gawing kaniya.

"Hey, enchantress." I gave Coal a questioning look when he whispered in my ear again. "I remembered something."

"What?"

"Do you know the saying about Las Vegas?"

"What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?" I asked.

His lips quirked. "Do you want to know what can happen to us in Vegas that doesn't need to stay in Vegas?"

Hinalughog ko ang lango na sa alak na utak ko. Nang mukhang naabot ko na ang limit na kaya no'n na ibigay ay umiling ako.

"Do you want to know?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

A shiver ran through my spine when I felt him bite my earlobe before he whispered something in my ear. My eyes widened, and I looked at him in surprise.

Oh.

I ALMOST fell sideways when Coal loosened his grip on me a little as he struggled to open the door of our hotel room. He caught me before I dropped to my knees, and we both shared a laugh as if it were the funniest of things.

I wasn't tipsy anymore. I'm blotto. Drunk. Intoxicated. Buzzed out of my mind.

Pinauna niya akong pumasok. I kicked off my shoes and walked straight to the waiting bed. I felt Coal's heat on my back, his arms snaking around my body.

I bit down on my lower lip when I felt the strain on his pants. "Wait." He didn't let me go, and instead his lips touched a sensitive part of my neck. Natatawang pilit na kumawala ako sa kaniya. "Wait a second."

Nilabas ko ang laman ng paper bag na hawak ko. Basta ko na lang initsa ang bag habang kipkip-kipkip ang parisukat na bagay na lumapit ako sa gilid ng kama. I bent over, not realizing that I was giving Coal a full view of my behind and my tiny white thong, and I placed the frame on the bedside table.

It's a printed picture of me and Coal with everyone. We were all smiling at the camera. Almost all of us looked drunk, while Coal's four older brothers looked amused at the situation. Who wouldn't when we had a wedding picture with Elvis Presley after he officiated the ceremony of our Elvis-themed ten-minute wedding?

"Fuck."

A surprise sound fell from my lips when I felt the warmth of Coal's hand touch my behind. He grinds his hips into mine, and the back of my head hits his hard chest when I arch to meet his thrusting.

"This has been driving me crazy all night," he murmured.

I gasped when he grazed my neck with his teeth. "Coal!"

"What do you want, baby? Do you want to take me like this? Or would you like to be on the bed, spread for me, as I bury myself in you? Or maybe you want me to fuck you against the wall while I suck your perfect breast?" His tongue trailed a wet path up my ear. "Hmm? What does my baby want?"

"All of the above," I breathed. "In any particular order."

A rumble echoed from his chest as he slid the piece of fabric I'm wearing underneath my tight dress to the side. I heard the sound of a zipper, and in the next second, a helpless cry fell from my mouth when he sheathed himself on my aching heat.

The sound of our bodies hitting each other sends a delicious thrill to me. I was drunk. We were both drunk. But not even the strongest alcohol on the planet could contend with the intoxicating high of having this with him.

I whimpered at the loss of his rod when he suddenly pulled it out of me. I was ready to complain, but my words were swallowed by his kiss when he turned me around to claim my lips. He hoisted me up, and I automatically wrapped my legs around his hips as I held on to his shoulders. My body convulsed, and my fingernails scored his back when he shoved his cock back inside me.

Still impaled to him, he walked until I felt the touch of the cold, hard glass on my back. Coal leaned down and took my breast in his mouth, sucking me hard. From where we were, I could see the beautiful Sin City. The lights below look like stars twinkling in the dark. A substitute for real stars that couldn't be viewed in this city.

"So beautiful," he whispered when he let go of my tender peak. "And mine to possess for the rest of our lives."

I cried out his name, desperate for release, as he continued his hard thrusts.

Las Vegas is indeed a place of fun. We started the experience at a strip club, followed by a quick drive-thru wedding with Elvis, and now we're ending the day with all of him inside me.

No. We ended the day with me on the bed spread for my husband as he took me again and again while his hands were clasped on mine, the rings on our fingers that he had brought with him with the very intention of giving one to me tonight, glinting like the stars that couldn't be seen here in this brightly lit city.

______________________________End of Chapter 37.