Delectable Men 2: Brentford Montgomery

Mainit. Maingay. Nakakaindak. The dance floor at the Caramia Resort bar was the perfect way to shake off the work day, at para kay Charmel Torres perpekto ang lugar na iyon para makapag-ensayo siya sa kanyang mga galaw. Iginiling niya ng maigi ang kanyang balakang habang sumasabay siya sa tugtog ng musika. Her hands raking through her hair and pushing damp strands from her forehead. Nagsilandasan na rin ang namumuong pawis sa likuran niya pero hindi iyon hadlang para tumigil siya. At midnight, the night was still in its infancy, at hindi talaga siya titigil sa pagsasayaw hanggang sa ang mga paa niya mismo ang kusang bumigay. She was enjoying a brief interlude away from her life plan in order to soak up the rays. Pero sa segundo na matapos na ang pagsasaya niyang ito ay babalik na naman siya sa dating gawi. Ang magpa-audition kahit ilang beses na siyang na re-reject. Napangiti lang siya sa sarili. Alam niyang makukuha rin niya ang matagal na niyang minimithi. Malaki kasi ang tiwala niya sa sarili. Since hindi naman mahilig sa pagsasayaw ang boyfriend ni Charmel, kaya hayun nagpaiwan lang ito sa bar counter, umiinom ng wine habang kausap nito ang isa sa mga empleyado ng resort. The music's beat flowing through her body was the only companion she needed. Her black dress clung to damp skin. Medyo sumisiksik na rin ang dance floor dahil sa patuloy ang pagsidatingan ng mga guests. "Hindi dapat nagsasayaw mag-isa ang magagandang babae." A low, masculine voice rumbled close to her ear. Then a hand rested lightly on her hip, but she didn't cease the gentle rolling of her pelvis until the beat slowed down. "Wag mong sayangin 'yang pick-up lines mo sa'kin, Brent." She turned and stepped out of his grip. "Marami namang ibang babae diyan na sasakay diyan sa cheesy mong linya." "Cheesy?" Napahalukipkip ito. "You're such a harsh woman, Charmel." The tanned expanse of his shoulders stretched out from under a loose-fitting black tank top, a tattoo peeking out at the neckline. Ang isa namang nakikita nitong tattoo ay nasa pala-pulsohan nito na simbolo ng isang anchor. He's off-limits, Charmel, paalala niya sa sarili. Super off-limits. Kaya wag na wag mo siyang hahawakan...o kahit isipin man lang na hawakan ito. Brentford Montgomery stepped forward to avoid the flailing arms of another dancer, who'd apparently indulged too many of the resort's signature cocktails. He bumped his hip against hers, and their arms brushed as Charmel continued to dance. Ayaw din naman niya maging killjoy na kahit gusto niya, a-ayaw-ayaw. Dahil sarili lang niya ang pinapahirapan pag ganon. The song changed and she thrust her hands into the air, swinging her hips again, bumping Brent gently. Tila nagmistulang magnet naman ang mga kamay ng lalaki nang hatakin siya ni Brent papalapit sa katawan nito. Every touch caused awareness to surge through her veins. "Hindi ka pwedeng magsayaw ng ganyan at asahan mong hindi ako makikisayaw sa'yo." His breath was hot against her ear. Her whole body tingled as the effects of the cocktails she'd downed before hitting the dance floor. Talaga namang nakapagbibigay ng init sa katawan ang alak. Medyo nahihilo na nga siya, at pilit niyang kumawala sa pagkakahawak ng lalaki, pero nabuwal siya nang bigla siyang banggain ng isang dancer. She landed hard up against Brent, her hands flat against his hard-rock chest. Ang bango-bango pa naman nito. Letsugas, ang bago talaga ng mokong. Against her better judgement she ran her palms up and down his chest, swinging her hips and rolling her head back. The music flowed through her, its heavy bass thundering in her chest. Naks! Iba talaga ang epekto ng alak sa kanya, bigla siyang nagiging bold at daring. "Pwede akong sumayaw kahit anong gusto ko," she said, tilting her chin up at him defiantly. "Mr. Cheesy." "May kabayaran 'yan." He grinned, snaking his arm around her waist and drawing her even closer. "Alam mo bang may pagkakaiba sa pagitan ng pagiging charming at pagiging cheesy?" "Sa tingin mo ba charming ka?" tudyo niya rito, at inignora lamang niya ang namumuong tensyon sa pagitan nilang dalawa. Malakas lang naman ang loob niyang magsalita rito ng mga ganoong bagay dahil sa impluwensya sa kanya ng alcohol. "Sa tingin ko, charming talaga ako." His lips brushed against her ear, and each bump of his thighs sent shivers down her spine. "Na patunayan ko na 'yan sa maraming okasyon." "Ilan na bang babae ang nag confirmed?" She bit back a grin, curious as to the number of notches on his bedpost. Alam niya kasi ang reputasyon ni Brentford pagdating sa babae, as much as she hated to admit it, halata naman kasi kung bakit. It wasn't just that he had gorgeous face and a body that looked as if it belonged in a men's underwear commercial. But Brent had something extra: a cheeky sense of humor coupled with the innate ability to make people feel comfortable around him. "I don't kiss and tell." "Come on...gusto mo e-round up ko to the nearest hundred." She pulled back to look at him in the eye.   He grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand behind his back, forcing her face close to his. "Hindi ako ganon ka playboy tulad ng iniisip mo, Miss Perfect." "I doubt that very much." The music switched to a slow, dirty grind and Brent nudged his thigh between hers. A gasp escaped her lips as her body fused to his. Kailangan na talaga niyang tumigil, ngayon na. Mali itong ginagawa nila. But it felt better than anything else could have right at that moment. Even better than dancing on a stage. "I bet mas malala ka pa nga." "Ha!" Hinawakan nito ang kanyang panga. "You want to know for sure, don't you?" Her body cried out in agreement, her breath hitching as his face hovered close to hers. The sweet smell of rum on his lips mingled with earthy maleness, hitting her with a force powerful enough to make her knees buckle. Goodness! Hindi siya maaring mahulog kay Brent. He was a slacker - an idle charmer who talked his way through life instead of working hard to get what he wanted. Magkaibang magkaiba talaga silang dalawa, lalo na ang mundong ginagalawan nila. Yet the feel of his hands on her face, the bump of his pelvis against hers, and the whisper of his breath at her cheek was the most intoxicating thing she'd ever experienced. Oh, no! Hindi 'to pwedeng mangyari...hindi. "You feel it, don't you?" anito saka binitawan na siya nito. "Don't lie to me, Charmel." "Hin--" Naputol ang sasabihin sana niya nang mamataan niyang nakatingin pala sa kanila si Thompson. "What the hell is going on?" he roared. Nakita niyang tila namumula sa galit ang pisngi ng nobyo. "It's nothing, man." Brent held up his hands in surrender and stepped back. Kung tutuusin nga mas malaki pa si Brent kaysa kay Thompson, ngunit batid niyang hindi basagulero na tipo si Brent. But how could she have done this? Paano siya nahulog sa lalaking matalik na kaibigan ng nobyo niya? "Hindi na ba ako pwedeng mag-isip ng masama? You had your hands all over her!"   "It's nothing, babe," sabi ni Charmel, at hinila niya ang nobyo palayo kay Brent. Subalit pumiksi ito sa pagkakahawak niya. "Sumasayaw lang naman kami, babe." "Ha!" The laugh was sharp stab of a sound - a laugh without a hint of humour. "Pwes, sabihin mo nga sa'kin, Charmel, kung wala ka talagang nararamdaman para kay Brent. Dahil sa nakikita ko hindi mukhang platonic ang pagsasayaw niyo bilang magkaibigan." She tried to find the words to explain how she felt, but she couldn't. Ipinikit na lamang niya ang mga mata at tinampal ang kanyang sentido. Siguro bubuksan niya ito pag bumagsak na si Brent sa sahig, dahil narinig niyang nagpakawala na nga ng suntok ang nobyo niya.   *****