PROLOGUE

"Z-ZACARIEL..."

With her sweaty body, lips were parted seductively, and eyes were shut close, while writhing above the bed, Yelena couldn't take another electrifying sensation anymore when Zacariel's hot tongue glided sensually against the soft and sensitive part of her femininity.

Ang matinding kapangyarihan ng makamundong pagnanasa ay lumukob sa pagkatao niya nang walang kahirap-hirap. Ang init na nararanasan ay umaalab na parang apoy.

Ang bawat masasarap na daing na lumalabas sa bibig niya, ang maiinit na haplos sa katawan niya, at ang paraan kung paano siya angkinin ng nag-iisang lalaking bumihag sa batang puso niya, ang nagdala sa kanya sa paraiso na silang dalawa lamang ang tao.

His warm callous palms were place above her flat stomach. Her legs were wide apart that even though she wants to jail his head in between her thighs, she couldn't. Because Zacariel tied both her foot to stay parted.

Her arms were tied above her head using his leather belt. But what thrilled her the most was the fact that she cannot see what he's doing to her because he covered her eyes with a blindfold.

To be on that situation where she sees nothing but darkness, where the only sounds that she heard were her moans, where her body was in flame, and when she felt so much satisfaction even though she can't move and can't even have a hold of him, made her feel that she became a slave of him... she completely became a slave of darkness.

Another long moan echoed when he opened her folds using his fingers, then rubbed his tongue against her cl*t until she cried in pleasure. Hindi ito tumigil kahit na nanginig na ang mga hita niya at walang awat na lumabas ang katas na naipon sa kanyang puson.

"Ohh, p-please..." her voice was weak and tender as her body.

Yelena licked her lower lips. She felt hydrated already.

Zacariel has been in between her thighs for a long minutes now. She also reached her climax a couple of times, but he remained there, tasting everything that came from her.

His fingers then found her nipples. Marahan na pinaikot-ikot sa mga 'yon ang hinlalaki habang patuloy sa paghagod ang dila sa namiminitig niyang pagkababae. Kumikislot siya at napapasinghap dahil talagang damang dama ang ginagawa nito sa kanya.

"Do you have plan to get up? Or are you gonna stay in between my thighs forever?"

She felt his lips formed a smirk with her question.

Pagkatapos ng halik sa magkabilang hita niya ay gumapang ang labi nito sa may tiyan niya.

Humugot siya ng hangin sa dibdib at hinintay kung saan hihinto ang malambot na labi na 'yon.

"If I could stay in between your thighs forever, baby, I would," he whispered sensually near the side of her lips.

Yelena pouted. She wants to kiss him but she tried not to because she didn't want to taste herself on his lips.

Zacariel's kisses went down on her jaw and neck.

Yelena craned and felt the fire inside her body building up again.

His hands found her boobs and massage them. And when his lips went down at the valley of her breast, she arched her body to tell him how much she wants him.

"I love your tits," the sounds of his sexy voice gave her stomach butterflies.

"I know."

She's a confident girl. She knew how much Zacariel Guerrera likes her. It was always an advantage if you are aware if someone has a feelings for you. She could always use her charm to get whatever she wants, and Zacariel Guerrera is not an exception.

Yelena gasped when she felt her nipple inside his mouth. When he started sucking like a thirsty beast, her moans came out.

Bawat madiin at gigil na sipsip sa ut*ng niya ay nagpapasinghap sa kanya at nagbibigay ng hindi matatawaran na ligaya. Ang hapdi at sarap ay naghahalo.

Tuluyan na talaga siyang naging alipin ng dilim nang maramdaman ang walang ingat na pagragasa ng mala-bakal sa tigas na ari ng binata sa loob ng pagkababae niya.

Zacariel was kneeling in between her thighs, gripping her waist with his strong callous hands, while pumping hard and deep inside of her.

"Aahh... ahhh! Uhh!"

Every thrust was bringing her to the brim. She couldn't handle the pleasure. His hard shaft and his low growls made her reached her climax easily. Taas at baba ang dibdib niya habang patuloy sa pag-araro si Zacariel sa pagkababae niya.

The way he grips on her waist would surely leave a red mark on her skin. But she don't mind. She wants to please him the way he always does to her.

The only thing that matters to Yelena Altamonte is to become a fashion designer. To know that she couldn't do that once she get married, made her wants to just run away. Hearing her cousin talks about disadvantages of arranged-marriage gave her more reason to do her plans.

"I don't love him. But I left with no choice, Yelena."

Naaawa na pinagmasdan niya ang pinsan. Kasalukuyan silang nasa mansyon nila at binisita siya ni Jamila para ibigay ng personal ang invitation card sa nalalapit na kasal nito. Sadly, her cousin will marry the man that her parents wanted for her.

It was their family's very old tradition. An arranged-marriage.

She was raised with that kind of wedding arrangement. Her parents were a product of it. Naging maayos naman ang pamilya nila. Kaya kahit noong bata pa siya, naintindihan niya kaagad na gano'n din ang mangyayari sa kanya balang araw.

Ngunit habang tumatagal na nagkakaroon siya ng muang sa mundo, natanto niya na ayaw niya pala ang paraan kung paano ikasal ang mga kamag anak niya. Kahit pa matagal na tradisyon na 'yon ng pamilya Altamonte.

Her disagreement to fixed or arranged-marriage can see with her actions. She doesn't want to marry someone that she don't love. She don't want to be with someone whom only choose her because that's what their family wanted for them. She don't want to be with a man that has no power to bend the tradition.

She always believed that a true love can conquer all. People must always choose the one that they loved. There's no other option, but love. Because honestly, that's what she will do. She'd always choose and prioritize the man that she loved, even if the world would be against them.

The reason why she became rebellious when her parents told her that she would be the next to get married after Jamila.

She don't want to get married to anyone yet. She still has to reach a lot of things in life. To marry at the young age would only ruin her dreams. She won't let that happen to her.

"Why don't you just run away?" Yelena suggested.

Jamila massaged her temple. Her cousin looked really stressed.

"Kapag ginawa ko 'yon, tuluyan na talaga akong itatakwil ng magulang ko."

Humalukipkip siya.

Paano kaya kung siya na ang nasa kalagayan ng pinsan? Anong parusa kaya ang makakamit niya kapag tinakbuhan niya ang groom niya? Itatakwil din kaya siya ng magulang niya?

Wala pang ni isa sa mga pinsan niya ang tumakbo sa kasal. Baka siya palang kapag nagkataon.

"At hindi ka bibigyan ng mana?"

"I don't think my parents could do that. Siguradong may mamanahin parin ako. I'd be a disgrace to Altamontes if I ran away on my wedding day."

Yelena squinted her eyes. She could be a disgrace too! Dahil wala pa man, naiisip niya na na tatakasan niya ang groom niya huwag lang matuloy ang pag-iisang dibdib nila.

"But, can't we choose who we want to marry?"

Jamila sipped on her fresh coconut juice. Her parents used to buy coconut in Hacienda Guerrera. Matamis ang buko juice nila roon kaya pati siya ay gusto 'yon.

"We can't, Yelena."

"I mean, if they allow us to have an option? Paano kung pangit pala ang lalaki na mapunta sa akin? I don't like to have an ugly husband! It's not fair."

Tumawa ang pinsan niya. Sumimangot naman siya.

She's picky with boys. Kaya talagang hindi siya sang ayon sa arranged-marriage. Di bale nang tumanda siyang dalaga huwag lang matali sa lalaking hindi niya mahal. Or maybe she's picky because she already liked and adored someone else. Kaya hindi na rin siya nagkaroon ng interes sa iba.

"Why don't you ask your parents about that?"

"Once they got home, I will. They are in Barcelona."

"Bakit hindi ka sumama?"

"I can't. I have summer class."

"Do you really pursue fashion design?"

"Of course. That's the only dream I want to pursue."

"And your parents don't like that."

"Wala na silang magagawa, Jamila. Nag enroll na ako sa Maynila."

While her parents were in Barcelona, she will study fashion design. With the help of her best friend-Santi, she was able to get a summer class. Pareho ang kurso na kinuha nila dahil parehong hilig.

"So, you will be with Santi in Manila?"

Santi is a family friend. A son of a congressman. Her grandfather is a former governor of their province. They are really known. After her father's term as being a mayor, he left the politics and spend his time on their family business which is quarrying mining. Even though her only brother is there to manage it.

"Yes. I'm gonna stay on his condo."

"Did you tell your plans to Russo?"

"Yeah, Kuya knows my plan. He's the only one who support me with what I want to achieve."

She loves her brother so much. Her parents couldn't spoil her like how her brother does. They are rich but she wasn't like other rich girl who can spend a lot of money for her whims. Ang allowance na ibinibigay sa kanya ay sapat lang. Kaya kapag may gusto siyang bilhin, sa Kuya Russo niya siya nanghihingi ng pera.

"I wonder if Russo would go with our family's tradition."

"Hmm, if I won't be able to break the tradition, my brother would surely do that if he didn't like the woman."

Knowing her brother, Russo Altamonte could break the rules if he wants too, even if it would anger their parents and grandfather. She aspires to have that kind of confidence, guts, and enough audacity to disagree with the things that is against her will.

"That's what my father told us. That the only Altamonte who have the audacity to break the family tradition is Russo. Well, let's see."

Kalaunan ay nagpaalam na rin si Jamila. Hindi na ito nag desisyon pang manatili ng isang gabi sa mansyon nila dahil marami pa raw itong aasikasuhin bukas para sa nalalapit na kasal. Wala talagang nagawa ang pinsan niya kundi pumayag na matali sa lalaking hindi nito mahal.

They are on their way to Manila when Yelena received a call from her mother. She don't want to answer that but it kept on ringing. Napatingin na rin tuloy sa kanya si Santi at sa screen ng cellphone niya.

"I'm worried Tita Yuna would scold me for helping you, Yelena."

"That's why I don't wanna answer this call."

Yelena heaved a sigh. Wala talaga siyang balak sagutin ang tawag. Alam niya agad na papagalitan lang siya ng mommy niya dahil sa desisyon niya na 'yon.

Nang natapos ang tawag ay ang cellphone naman ni Santi ang tumunog. With eyes widened, Santi covered his mouth as if seeing her mother's name on the screen terrified him.

"Let's answer na? Tell her that it's only two months?"

Kinuha niya ang cellphone at sinagot. Her mom won't stop from calling them if they didn't answer.

"Mommy-"

"What is this, Yelena? Are you going to Manila for what? You are just wasting your time!"

Nagkatinginan sila ni Santi. Hindi naman naka loud speaker 'yon pero sa iritadong boses ng ina, halos marinig ng kaibigan ang sinasabi ng kabilang linya.

"Mom, this is what I want. Besides, this is only a summer class. Bago pa kayo makauwi rito ay nakabalik na ako sa atin."

"What I was trying to say is taking that course is useless, Yelena. Ikakasal ka rin kalaunan at hindi 'yan ang magiging priority mo. "

"I don't wanna get married-"

"What?! What did you say?"

Yelena leered.

Santi is carefully listening while his head near her shoulder.

"I said, I don't want to get married. I don't want to spend my life with a man that you will choose for me."

"Anong sinasabi mong bata ka? Your grandfather would've a heart attack once he heard you saying that nonsense!"

Bumuntonghininga ulit siya.

Mas maganda na sa personal niya nalang sasabihin sa mga ito ang hindi niya pag sang ayon sa tradisyon ng pamilya nila. Bahala na kung magalit sa kanya ang magulang niya at ang kanyang lolo. Habang maaga pa ay ipaparating niya na sa mga ito na ayaw niyang magpakasal sa kahit kaninong mapili ng mga ito para sa kanya.

"You didn't even know who is the man that we chose for you, Yelena."

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya.

Nagkatinginan ulit si ni Santi.

"What? May napili na sila?" he mouthed.

"I think so?" she mouthed back.

Yelena cleared her throat. "What do you mean, mom? You already chose a man for me?"

That though terrified her. It was too early to introduce her with whoever her parents chose for her! They must have wait until she's ready! Damn, she just turned eighteen!

"Yes. We will visit them once we get back home."

Her heart pounded. Halos manginig ang mga kamay niya dahil mabilis na binalot ng iritasyon at galit dahil sa mabilis na desisyon ng magulang niya. Pakiramdam niya ay kaagad na kinukuha sa kanya ang kalayaan na gawin ang mga gusto niya sa buhay.

She's too young for marriage. Too young to be a wife. Too young to experience a married life.

She was really not into a relationships or anything that involves marriage. Her heart feels like a stone that she couldn't afford being attracted with someone else. But deep in side of her, there's only one man that she wants... that she adores... and maybe, the only man that she would allow to be with for the rest of her life. Kaya lang... hindi talaga siya manalo-nalo sa laro ng tadhana.

At hanggang sa mga sandaling 'yon ay malinaw parin sa ala-ala niya ang mga munting pangarap ng mas batang Yelena. Mga pangarap niya para sa kanilang dalawa pagdating ng malayong hinaharap.

Masyado siyang nabulag sa dami ng pangarap noon, na hindi niya napaghandaan na sa pagdaan ng panahon, mag-iiba ang ihip ng hangin.

Her dreams to be with Zacariel Guerrera in the future shattered together with her heart when she heard him muttered those unforgettable words...