***

Napilitan si Quaro na pagbigyan si Kirsten at bumalik sa pagkakasalampak sa carpet. Muli itong umiwas ng tingin.

"Fine," he said, "I'll stay for ten more minutes."

Ngumiti si Kirsten at binitiwan ito. "Salamat."

Ibinaba ng dalaga ang tingin sa pagkaing nasa tray, kinuha ang tinidor na nasa tabi ng plato at inumpisahang haluin ang red sauce sa pasta. Unang tinusok ni Kirsten ang meatball at dinala sa bibig; she ate it with gusto.

"Ang sarap!"

Doon lang muling ibinalik ni Quaro ang pansin dito. Pinanood nito ang dalaga na kainin ang pasta na inihanda nito.

Quaro had never cooked for someone else before, not even for his family. His adoptive mother, Felicia, was the master chef of the house. Nais nitong ito ang magluto sa mga anak, kaya walang sinuman sa kanilang magkakapatid ang nangealam sa pagluluto.

Natuto lang si Quaro na magluto nang tumira ito roon sa Montana. And that pasta was the first dish he cooked for someone else. At ang makita si Kirsten na sarap na sarap sa luto niya ay nakapagbibigay sa kaniya ng kung anong kaligayan.

And whether he would admit it or not, he liked cooking for her... and watching her eat the food he made.

Napatitig si Quaro sa mga labi ng dalaga. Malalaking subo ang ginagawa nito kaya ang sauce ng spaghetti ay kumalat sa paligid ng bibig nito, where Kirsten would lick with her tongue.

And that made him feel uncomfortable.

But this time, he didn't look away. He continued to watch her instead. He wouldn't look away even if his life depended on it. Hindi maintinidihan ni Quaro kung bakit siya natuliro habang pinanonood si Kirsten na inisusubo ang pasta sa bibig. Nakamaang lang siya habang pinagmamasdan kung papaanong kumalat ang red sauce sa paligid ng mga labi nito, at kung papano nito iyon dilaan upang matanggal.

Quaro was... bewitched. At gustong isipin ng binata na sinasadya iyong gawin ni Kirsten upang... upang...

Napabuntong-hininga siya saka ibinaba ang tingin upang iligtas ang sarili sa karimlan. He didn't like what he was starting to feel.

"Minsan ay sinabi mong hindi mo gustong magkaroon ng karelasyon dahil ayaw mo ng commitment," umpisa ni Kirsten na muling ikina-angat ng ulo ni Quaro. Nilunok muna ng dalaga ang pagkaing nasa bibig bago nagpatuloy. "Pero kahit minsan ba ay hindi ka talaga nagka-girlfriend?"

"Didn't I tell you to stop asking me about my personal life?"

"Curious lang," sagot nito bago muling dinilaan ang ibabang labi kung saan may kumalat na sauce.

Napailing si Quaro at muling umiwas ng tingin. "I used to have a girlfriend back when I was in the university. Hindi ako maiinis sa commitment kung hindi ko naranasang pumasok sa isang relasyon."

Tumango ang dalaga. "Pagkatapos ng girlfriend mo na iyon ay fling na lang ang lahat?"

"Yes, I had flings and they were too many to count. Now, let's drop the topic, shall we?" Hinaluan ng binata ng inis ang tinig upang tantanan na ni Kirsten ang pagtatanong.

But Kirsten was just getting started.

"Gusto mo rin ba akong tanungin kung nagka-boyfriend na ako?"

Doon ibinalik ni Quaro ang pansin dito. Si Kirsten ay ibinaba na ang plato ng spaghetti na sa pagkamangha niya'y naubos nito. Binuksan nito ang bote ng wine gamit ang cork screw na nasa tray, at imbes na magsalin niyon sa kopita ay diretsong ini-tungga.

Quaro's eyes grew in horror. And he was about to scold her when Kirsten started talking again,

"I never had one."

Nawala ang pansin ng binata sa wine at muling hinarap si Kirsten.

"You never had what?"

"Boyfriend."

"No one ever dared to pursue you?"

"No one ever met my standard."

Quaro smirked. "Standard, huh." And that took his interest. "I wonder what your standard is when it comes to men?"

Napangiti si Kirsten. "Gusto mong malaman?"

"For the sake of conversation, yeah, why not?"

Matagal na tinitigan ni Kirsten ang kaharap nang may misteryosong ngiti sa mga labi bago sumagot. "Someone like you."

Si Quaro naman ngayon ang natigilan.

At bago pa man napigilan ng dalaga ang sarili ay inalis nito ang tray at ang cake na pumapagitan sa kanilang dalawa at umusog palapit sa binata na nagsalubong ang mga kilay.

"Ikaw lang yata ang nakapasa sa panlasa ko, Quaro..."

He thought she was back to being bold again, just like how she was last night after consuming that alcoholic cake.

"Marami akong naging manliligaw noon sa bayang pinanggalingan ko," patuloy ni Kirsten, ang anyo ay unti-unting nag-iba sa paraang hindi kilala ni Quaro. "Pero lahat sila ay ligwak dahil hindi ko mahanap ang mga katangiang gusto ko sa lalaki. Well, pumapangalawa lang ang pisikal na aspeto, pero ang hinahanap ko talaga ay isang... katulad mo."

Hindi nagsalita si Quaro at hinayaan ang dalagang magpatuloy.

"Alam mo ba kung ano iyon?"

Quaro remained quiet.

Lalo pang umusog palapit si Kirsten. "You are sexy and hot and delectable. I always have butterflies in my stomach whenever I look at you... and think of you. Noong una kitang nakita, malakas na tumibok ang puso ko, natuliro ako; I thought I've had a heart attack. I haven't met someone who made me feel and act this way, Quaro. Sa'yo pa lang."

Dahan-dahang humugot nang malalim na paghinga si Quaro, trying his very best to stay calm.

"I have trouble thinking straight whenever you're around," Kirsten continued. "You always give me very naughty thoughts."

Tumingkayad ang dalaga at inilapit ang mukha sa mukha ni Quaro na hindi rin umiwas. Bagaman nanatiling bato ang ekspresyon ng mukha ng binata ay may samu't saring emosyon namang pumapaloob sa mga mata nito.

"Tulad ng parati kong sinasabi, Quaro, tapos na ako sa shy and reserved phase— dumating na rin ako sa desperate phase. Alam mo ba kung ano ang kasunod?"

He remained quiet, but his eyes now left hers and traveled down to her semi-parted, luscious lips.

"Alam mo ba?" ulit ni Kirsten.

Wala sa loob na umiling si Quaro, kaya sinagot na rin mismo ni Kirsten ang sariling katanungan,

"Flirtatious phase."

Dahan-dahang pinakawalan ni Quaro ang paghinga. Muli itong nag-angat ng tingin at sinalubong ang mga mata ni Kirsten. "Flirtatious stage?"

He didn't know why, but he liked the sound and the intention of it.

Tumango si Kirsten. "Pwede ba kitang landiin, ha, Quaro?"

"Do you really need to ask, Kirsten?" he answered hoarsely. Pakiramdam ni Quaro sa mga sandaling iyon ay parang pader na unti-unting tinitibag ng malakas na bagyo. Pader na bibigay na anumang sandali.

And he wasn't even fighting it.

"Gusto ko lang manigurado," Kirsten uttered while eying on his lips. "Baka kasi mamaya, takasan mo na naman ako."

Hindi na rumehistro sa isip ni Quaro ang huling mga sinabi ni Kirsten dahil sa lalong paglapit ng mukha ng huli rito. She was getting closer and closer, inch by inch, as if she was taking her time, allowing him to absorb every word she said.

"Kirsten..." Her name just rolled in his mouth like a tasteful candy. "I don't think you will be able to handle me."

"Try me—you will be surprised." Unti-unting ipinikit ni Kirsten ang mga mata habang ang mga labi'y palapit pa nang palapit sa mga labi ni Quaro.

"Don't you think I'm too old for you?"

Umiling ang dalaga. "Beinte-dos na ako ngayon habang ikaw naman ay treinta. Ano ba naman ang walo— siyam na taong agwat?"

"No, I didn't mean the age per se, but the experience. I am old enough to know what I want when it comes to women, and you are too young to understand what they are."

Isang pulgada na lang halos ang pagitan ng mga labi nila nang huminto si Kirsten at ini-mulat ang mga mata.

"Madali naman akong matuto, Quaro..." she whispered while her eyes bored into his. "Lalo't alam kong gagalingan mo..."

*

*

*

Quaro knew he was in trouble and there was no turning back. He had been feeling hot since they started the topic, and he was a needy man so he was more than willing to give in to her temptations.

He swallowed—for no fucking reason at all.

Damn—kailan pa siya naging nerbyoso pagdating sa mga babae? In the past thirty years of his life, he was always in control when it comes to women. He was the one who runs the show—the manipulator of the game. But why the heck did that change since this woman came into his life?

"Para kang alitaptap na lumalapit sa lampara sa ginagawa mong ito, Kirsten. I'll give you enough time to think about this and turn your back—bago pa mahuli ang lahat," he warned gently.

But Kirsten smirked and said, "Marahil ay tama ka, para akong alitaptap. Dahil tulad nila ay nakahanda akong masunog, Quaro."

And that's what he only needed to hear.

Itinaas niya ang isang kamay at dinala sa likod ng ulo ni Kirsten; pumaloob sa buhok nito ang mga daliri niya, hanggang sa banayad niyang hilahin ang buhok nito dahilan upang mapatingala ang dalaga. "One last chance..."

Ngumisi si Kirsten bago ini-angat ang sarili upang tawirin ang pagitan ng kanilang mga labi. Her lips crushed into his, and everything went hazy afterward.

God, her lips were as soft as flower petals it made him wonder if she could handle him. He knew himself and he liked to go rough with women—kakayanin kaya ni Kirsten ang paraan niya?

And for fuck's sake, she tasted so sweet he couldn't help but delve his tongue into her mouth. Noong hinalikan niya ito kagabi'y hindi ganito ka-sidhi ang naramdaman niya—maybe because he still had reservations then.

But this time—he was ready.

Ready to play her game. Ready to play fire with her.

And he wouldn't hold back. No, he wouldn't. Buong araw siyang binagabag ng halik na pinagsaluhan nila kagabi, there was no way he'd hold back this time.

Si Kirsten ay lalong lumapit sa kaniya, paluhod na idinikit ang katawan sa kaniya at ang mga braso'y ini-gapang sa kaniyang mga balikat. Ang isa niyang kamay na nakapatong sa kaniyang tuhod ay tila may sariling buhay nang umangat iyon patungo sa bewang ng dalaga, pulling her even closer to his body.

And by God, the softness of her body felt so good against his.

At napagtanto niyang iba pala talaga ang pakiramdam kapag tanggap ng utak at buong pagkatao ang nangyayari, hindi tulad noong isang gabi.

They continued to share that hungry, tantalizing kiss when Kirsten's hands slowly trailed down to his arms, touching them softly with a hint of seduction.

He wondered where Kirsten learned to do this. She seemed to know what she was doing.

This probably isn't her first time, he thought.

There was a bit of disappointment—just a tiny bit—but he was more relieved that he didn't have to teach her anything.

She claimed to never have a boyfriend, but she acted like someone who had a vast experience when it comes to pleasing a man.

Very intriguing... he thought again before gently pulling her hair down. Gusto niyang laliman ang paghalik niya rito kaya niya iyon ginawa. And he did, making Kirsten moan in desperate need.

After savoring her sweetness, he let go of her lips to kiss her neck. Her skin felt so velvety against his lips, and it tasted as vanilla and cream combined. At para iyong may kung anong gamot na lalong nagpaliyo sa kaniya.

Kirsten arched her body and tilted her head backward to give him more access to her velvety neck. He continued to give her wet kisses there; kissing, nibbling, sucking her flesh not-so-gently. Kirsten rewarded him with a sexy growl.

Damn—that growl was the sexiest, most satisfying he had ever heard during foreplay. Kirsten was fucking sexy in every aspect— that was probably the fire he used to see in her eyes.

Shit; he's getting crazier every passing second. At kung anuman ang mayroon sa babaeng ito na halos ikabaliw niya'y aalamin niya— sa gabing iyon.

Ilang sandali pa'y bumaba ang kamay ni Kirsten sa kamay niyang mahigpit na nakayakap sa bewang nito, habang ang isa'y dumapo naman sa kabilang braso niya upang alisin ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa buhok nito.

Now, Kirsten's hands were holding his, and to his surprise and amusement, she guided them to her breasts.

And the moment his hands cupped her medium-sized bubbies, a unified moan filled the room. Hindi siya sigurado kung sino sa kanilang dalawa ang nagpakawala ng mas malakas na ungol, probably both of them—because they both felt the same.

"Quaro..." Kirsten whispered, still tilting her head backward, enjoying the heat generating from his lips on her neck. "Gusto kong himasin mo ako sa paraan kung papaano mong hinihimas ang dough mo."

"Sigurado ka?" he asked as he continued to assault her neck. "Baka pagsisihan mo itong hinihiling mo?"

"Bakit ko pagsisisihan kung alam kong magugustuhan ko naman?"

"Because I just don't knead the dough—I punch it down as well."

Naramdaman niya ang sandaling pagkatigil ni Kirsten na ikina-ngiti niya. Ibinaba nito ang mukha at sinalubong ang kaniyang mga tingin—doon niya nakita ang pagkamangha sa mukha nito sa kabila ng apoy na nakapaloob sa mga mata.

Ilang sandali pa'y umikot paitaas ang mga mata ni Kirsten. "Diyos ko naman, Quaro, napaka-literal. Wala ka bang alam sa dirty talk?"

He couldn't help but smile—and that smile turned to laughter.

At sa pagkagulat ni Kirsten ay pinagbigyan niya ito sa nais— he kneaded her breasts not-so-gently, and bent down his head to give her another round of soul-shattering kiss.

Then, when Kirsten struggled to breathe after a while, he released her lips, put his hand at the back of her neck, pulled her closer, and whispered something in her ears; something that gave her goosebumps.

"Brace yourself, Kirsten, 'coz I'm going to hump you all night."

***

NEXT >>

Chapter 14 – Bed Buddies

A/N:

Maraming salamat sa matiyagang paghihintay!!!

As I write this note, I would like to let you know that I have finally finished writing the story; editing na lang at araw-araw na update.

YES! Araw-araw na update! Yiiiieeee

Haha!

Sana'y naligayahan kayo sa two-chapter-update na ito. :))

And please don't forget to leave your comments; I would love to read and respond to them!

Xx