Warning: this chapter may contain explicit scenes.

Chapter 32: Claim

I've never saw Zackary so pissed in front of such important people. Pareho kami ni Ms. Ivette na hindi alam ang gagawin sa sitwasyon, hanggang sa humalakhak si Sir Albert.

"Zackary, you're so much like your father," he bellowed.

Hindi naalis ang pagngitngit sa mukha ni Zackary. Sir Albert raised a hand, motioning for everyone to calm down. "I'm not serious with my offer. I knew the moment you two stepped here, that she's no ordinary staff."

Isang mahinang buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan ko. In an instant, the thick atmosphere was broken. Huminga nang malalim si Zackary bago muling sumandal sa upuan.

Bumaling sa'kin si Sir Albert mula sa kabilang dulo ng mahabang mesa. "I appreciate the words you've said to my daughter and things you've shared to us, Ms. Eleanor. Let me prepare the documents so we could sign it after this meal."

Matapos ang dinner, inanyaya ni Sir Albert si Zackary sa study room upang tuluyang pirmahan ang mga dokumento. Bago pumunta, lumapit sa'kin si Zackary. Maybe it was because of the conversation at the dinner table earlier. Bigla niya akong niyakap nang mahigpit, kissing the side of my head as he did.

"Wait for me for a bit so we could go home."

I settled myself in the living room nang umalis si Zackary. Habang naghihintay, pinuntahan ako ni Ms. Ivette dala ang isang tray ng tsaa sa makukulay na teacups at ilang pastries. Tinulungan kong ipatong ito sa coffee table bago siya umupo sa couch sa tapat ko.

"Sinabihan ko na sila na linisin ang isa sa mga guest rooms."

"Hindi na po kailangan," I told her. "We're heading back after the documents are signed."

"At this time?" Sumulyap siya sa madilim na paligid mula sa labas ng bintana. The dinner earlier lasted longer than what we expected and it was already eight in the evening.

"The road between Ellesmere and Van Zanth is dangerous to take at night..." she insisted. "And I don't think my husband would easily let go of Zackary after closing such important alliance."

Ngumiti siya bago sumimsim ng tsaa. "He just ordered to bring to the study room two of his prized liquors from his collection. What's an alliance without a little celebration?" ngiti ni Ms. Ivette.

I didn't expect we would stay overnight here.

After sharing a few drinks and pastries in the living room, sinamahan ako ni Ms. Ivette sa dulo ng pangalawang palapag kung saan makikita ang guest room na kanyang tinutukoy. Bago nagpaalam, she told me to ask for anything I need while staying here.

But I didn't need anything. I still wasn't sure if Zackary and I would really stay here for the night. But for the meantime, I removed my coat and placed it on the coach inside the room.

Umupo ako sa malambot na kama bago tuluyang humiga, inaanyaya ng antok. It was indeed a little late to drive. But I better take a short nap while waiting. It's been a long day.... I hope Zackary too have time to rest after this.

Hindi ko namalayan ang paglipas ng oras. I woke up to the noise coming from the doorway. I raised my upper body from the bed. Nang makapag-adjust ang paningin ko sa madilim na kwarto, I saw Zackary entering the room.

Mukhang kagagaling niya lang sa ibaba. Sumulyap ako sa orasan malapit sa headboard ng kama. It was past midnight. Their celebration lasted for four hours.

Umalis ako sa higaan at lumapit sa kanya. I could smell liquor from him but he remained composed, his words and movement in a usual calm demeanor.

"I requested for another room," he told me, "but the rest of the guest rooms were occupied." Nagtungo siya sa couch kung saan ko pinatong ang coat ko. Umupo siya dito saka sumandal. "I'll take the couch so you could sleep better."

Pinagmasdan ko siya. Kompara sa matikas niyang katawan, the couch looks like a mini version to him. With his broad shoulders and toned arms, hindi na siya magkakasya. At hindi mapagkakaila na pagod na din siya.

"Wouldn't it be too uncomfortable for you?" I asked.

"It's fine, Eleanor." His words remained firm and calm. "You can take the bed."

Umiling ako. "You can take the side of the bed," I insisted. "It's quite wide anyway."

Ngumiti siya habang nakaupo sa couch, nakatingala at pinagmamasdan akong nakatayo sa harapan niya. "Eleanor," his voice came lower, more hoarse. "Don't you know what you're doing to me?"

"I'm... asking you to sleep on the bed."

Tuluyan siyang tumayo hanggang sa ako na ang nakatingala sa kanya. Inabot ng kanyang palad ang pisngi ko at banayad na hinaplos habang nakatitig kami sa isa't-isa. "I'm a little drunk right now, Eleanor. I don't want little control of myself while you're with me. I want you to feel safe with me."

"But..." I mumbled. "I feel the safest when I'm with you."

Kumurba ang sulok ng kanyang labi, giving me a light smirk. "You're only saying that because you haven't had any idea yet." The tip of our toes were almost touching while standing in front of each other, staring at each other's faces.

"Idea about what?"

His head leaned lower, our nose almost skimming the tip of one another. "That I want you so bad."

My eyelids fluttered, eyes staring wide at him. As if confirming his words, Zackary smiled to himself. "I'll stay in the couch," he said with finality.

Wala akong nagawa nang bumalik ako sa maluwang na higaan habang pilit humiga si Zackary sa couch, pinagkakasya ang kanyang katawan. But the couch was only enough to cater to the back of his neck down to his upper leg.

He closed his eyes out of tiredness. Pilit akong pumikit para matulog sa malambot na kama. But I couldn't stay still. Habang lumilipas ang oras, Zackary kept on shifting on the small couch, trying to make himself comfortable.

At one in the morning, I walked to him on the couch. "Zack..." I whispered, hands on his arm.

He groaned and shifted a little. His eyes were half-closed but when he saw me standing in front of him, he sat up, immediately alert. "Is there something wrong, Eleanor?"

"Please just lay on the bed," I mumbled in the dark. "You need to at least have a proper sleep, Zack..."

Humugot siya nang malalim na hininga. "Will it make you sleep better?" he asked.

I nodded. Tumayo siya mula sa couch. "Then I'll take the side of the bed..."

Pareho kaming nahiga sa kama, taking each side. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makitang mas komportable na siyang humiga. Nakaharap kaming sa isa't-isa habang nakahiga, a clear distance of a few feet between us.

"If you get uncomfortable just tell me, Eleanor..." Zackary reminded me.

I just nodded and watch him drifted back to sleep, closing his eyes, his thick lashes falling like curtains on his lids. Ramdam ko ang malalim niyang paghinga na unti-unting nagiging kalmado habang lumalalim ang kanyang tulog.

The situation earlier with the couple's daughter reminded me of things... that it takes fresh eyes to see what's wrong in a situation. People often don't see how toxic a situation is until they see it from the outside looking in.

When I was with my previous owners, I thought I was lucky to even have a place to stay or a person to serve instead of being pass around. Being in Van Zanth... I realized how the situation I thought was normal was killing me from the inside.

And Zackary... the person sleeping next to me... made me see it... that I deserve something more.

Tahimik kong pinagmasdan ang kanyang mukha... ang mga mata niyang nakapikit, the slant of his nose, the corner of his jaw and his pursed lips...

Dahan-dahan akong lumapit sa kanyang mukha. I gulped air as I leaned closer, closing my eyes as my lips touched his mouth... in a gently, feathery kiss.

His warm lips moved, welcoming my mouth. My eyes snapped open in daze.

Zack was awake. His lips curved to a smile against my lips... slow and teasing. I leaned back, creating a small gap between our lips. My face lit on fire, flushed in embarrassment.

"Stealing a kiss?" he teased.

"I... I didn't... I didn't know you're..."

"I'm kidding, Eleanor," he whispered. His hand made its way to the back of my head, pulling me gently back to his lips. "Look at you blushing," he whispered before his lips reached mine once again, crashing... moving in a foreign rhythm.

I was in trance. I could taste the hint of bitter liquor from his mouth, making my breathing hard and unsteady. "Eleanor..." Zackary pulled himself up, placing both of his arms on either side of my head as he hovered over me.

A sound escaped my lips as his teeth grazed my lower lip, parting my mouth. My hands found their way to his chest, wrinkling his clothes with my fist as I couldn't stay still while his lips and tongue moved insatiably, claiming my mouth.

This feeling... I wanted to be closer... closer than this...

A low gasped escaped my lips as Zackary's lips moved low, trailing kisses to my jaw, making my gaze moved from his face to the ceiling above us.

"Zack..."

He tugged down the sleeve of my shirt, exposing my shoulder and collarbone. I leaned my head back while his lips sucked my exposed skin, setting it on fire.

I couldn't stay still... couldn't breathe deep even if I needed to. I've never felt this sensation before, like being in the middle of the ocean while surges of intense emotions crashed into me like continuous waves.

"Zackary..."

My hands searched for something to hold. I gripped his chiseled back and dug my fingers against his skin, breathing hard as Zackary lips devoured my skin, sending my nerves in haywire.

Zackary's warm breath fanned my burning skin, as though he's as breathless as I was. He placed another fiery kiss on my jaw, making my body lean to him.

"I couldn't wait for the day I could mark you and claim you as mine."

***