Dangerous Emotions

XIII

Carter softly cussed under his breath as he watched Candice chat with Soleil. Sino ba namang mag-aakala na dadalaw ang kanyang mga kapatid sa pinaka-convenient na panahon? Kung kailan may malapit nang mangyari sa kanilang dalawa ng asawa niya...

Wait a f*cking minute, Levi Carter Chen, saway ng kanyang isipan. Bakit ka nae-excite na may mangyayari sa inyo ng bruhang ‘yon, aber? Naipiling na lamang niya ang kanyang ulo at tumikhim bago uminom ng juice. Nakatunghay lang si Caleb sa kanya at para bang nang-aasar. Sa pagkainis ay nilingon niya ito. “What the heck is your problem, Lucius Caleb Chen? Stop smiling, you’re creeping me out.”

“Kayo ha,” nanunudyong saad nito habang inaalog-alog ang laman ng baso nito. “Anong ginagawa n’yo ni Ate Sol kanina, ha?”

He rolled his eyes. “Wala ka na ro’n. Mag-asawa ka rin nang malaman mo.”

Caleb chuckled before glancing at the two ladies seated at the far corner of the garden. “We’ll be staying during the weekend. Was the visit inconvenient, Ge ge?”

“My wife’s kind of busy. Alam mo naman na tambak ang trabaho niya dahil kakagaling lang namin sa preparation ng kasal. And I’m preparing for an audition. Naaalala mo ba ‘yong bagong action-romance telenovela na balak ni Direk Matti na gawin? Sinabihan niya ako na mag-audition for the male part at baka raw magustuhan ko.”

Mahinang tumawa ang kanyang kapatid. “I doubt that you still need to audition for the part. Hindi ka naman kukulitin ni Direk kung may balak pa silang kumuha ng ibang artista.”

Ngumiti lang siya habang sinisimsim ang grape juice na nasa baso niya. Matagal-tagal na rin pala simula noong huli siyang uminom. Simula noong ikinasal sila ni Soleil ay pinigil-pigilan niya talagang uminom. Ang huling drinking spree niya e noong nagtalo pa sila noong isang linggo, kung drinking spree man iyon na matatawag. Hindi niya rin naman kasing magawang maglasing habang nasa Red Angel dahil iniisip niya si Soleil. At ang mga sinabi nito sa kanya.

Her words resonated to him that night. Napaisip siya bigla tungkol sa estado ng kanyang nararamdaman. Ayaw niyang paniwalaan na may feelings pa siya kay Soleil dala na rin ng haba ng panahon simula noong huli niyang inamin sa sarili niya na may gusto siya rito. Sure, she was pretty and she was a good wife as well as a career woman, but he could not just imagine himself still feeling those butterflies with her. Though his body wanted to disagree this past few days.

Mayamaya ay nagpaalam siya kay Caleb na aayusin lang ang tutulugan ng mga ito. May apat na silid sa loob ng bago nilang bahay. Tatlo lamang roon ang may higaan dahil ang isa ay ginagamit pa nilang storage room pansamantala ng mga regalong natanggap nila noong kasal na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nila nabubuksan. He had no other choice but to share rooms with Soleil because he knew that Candice would not sleep in the same room with Caleb. Lalo na at malakas na maghilik ang kanyang kapatid na lalaking madalas naman ikaasar ng kanyang bunsong kapatid. Hindi naman nagprotesta si Soleil nang ipaalam niya iyon at inutusan pa siya na ayusin ang kanyang mga gamit dahil ayaw nitong malaman ng kanilang mga pamilya na natutulog sila sa magkahiwalay na silid.

He was softly humming an old song as he gathered all of his belongings from the guest room. Buti na lang at hindi niya pa naipapaayos sa mga maids ang mga damit niya at nakalagay pa rin sa movable clothes rack na kaniya na lamang itinulak patungo sa master’s bedroom. Sa kabilang kamay niya naman ay hawak niya ang mga toiletries at personal care products na ginagamit niya. Nakasabit sa leeg niya ang charger ng kanyang smartphone, laptop, at iPad.

Nang marating ang silid ni Soleil ay bukas na iyon. Nang makapasok sa loob ay nakita niya si Soleil na inaayos ang mga gamit nito. Sandali siya nitong nilingon. Muling bumalik sa ginagawa nito ang kanyang asawa. “Hey, let me arrange some of my things first. Baka kasi magkapalit tayo ng gamit o magkahalo kaya naman sinundan kita,” mahinang sabi nito.

He smiled before closing the door. “Yeah, sure. It’s not a problem. I’m glad that you went to help me, actually. Baka bugahan mo ako ng apoy kapag nagulo ko gamit mo,” natatawang saad niya habang itinutulak ang clothes rack sa isang tabi.

Mahinang tumawa si Soleil. “Looks like you’re starting to get used on living with me, huh.”

He grinned before sitting on top of the bed where she was. “Well, I’ve known you for almost all of my life, Luna Soleil. What do you expect?”

Sandaling napuno ng katahimikan ang silid habang pareho silang nag-aayos ng kanilang mga gamit. Neither of them wanted to bring up the passionate kiss that they shared earlier. Both were scared to talk about it, so it seemed. Or rather, it was awkward and weird. Just like what Soleil claimed.

Habang ipinapatong ng kanyang asawa ang ilan sa mga designer bags nito sa nay kataasang shelf ay hindi niya maiwasang hindi mapatingin. She was still in her pink pajamas, and it was clear as day that she was wearing nothing underneath. Hindi nito maabot ang pinakataas na parte ng estante kaya naman tumayo na siya at kinuha ang bag mula sa mga kamay nito.

“Ako na, baka mapaano ka pa sa kakatingkayad mo,” mahinang sabi niya habang inaayos ang mga bag nito sa pinakamataas na parte ng cabinet. Soleil was pinned between his large, muscular frame and the shelf. Habang inaayos niya ang mga bag nito ay hindi niya mapigilan na mapasulyap sa kanyang asawa na tiyak niyang nakatingala sa kanya. Hindi ito umiimik. Nang magtama ang kanilang mga mata ay napansin niya ang pauli-ulit na paglunok nito habang pababa sa kanyang mga labi ang titig nito.

“Thanks,” halos nauutal na saad nito.

“My pleasure, baby girl,” he muttered before stepping back a little. Ngunit hindi lumikha ng malaking distansiya ang kanyang mga paa. Bagkus ay tila ba parang nais noon na lumapit pa sa katawan ni Soleil. Na tila ba gamugamong naaakit sa ilaw ng lampara.

It was his turn to gulp when she reached her trembling hands to touch his broad chest. Her palms were as if magical, giving him heat and that healing sensation that eased the nervousness in his senses. They went higher, and higher, and higher... until they rested on the nape of his neck, pulling him closer to her gravitational field.

“Soleil...”

“You... have the habit of making me want more, Mr. Chen,” she whispered, words almost not escaping her lips. Her gaze was stuck to his mouth, as if wanting to do something with them.

“They must be... waiting for us downstairs, you know,” he reminded her. But Soleil kept her stubbornness, tipping her toes to reach his lips. And as if on cue, Carter felt his self-control snapping, as he met her warm lips.

Sabay silang napaungol nang marahan niyang kagatin ang pang-ibabang labi ng kanyang asawa. The corners of her lips moved, as her left palm slid down to his pants, feeling its way to it. Umigkas ang kamay niya at napunta iyon sa likuran ng ulo ni Soleil, na siyang itinulak niya papalapit para mas palalimin pa ang kanilang halik. Ang kabilang kamay niya ay napunta sa pang-upo nito, at mariing pinisil iyon bago ito hinayaan na igalaw at ikiskis ang balakang nito sa kanya. Para bang tinakasan ng lakas ang mga tuhod ni Carter noong mga oras na iyon dahil ramdam niya ang panginginig ng mga iyon habang magkalapat ang mga labi nila.

“Carter,” she softly whispered before slipping his hand in her pajama pants. “Touch me, please...”

“Sol... my siblings might barge in,” he warned.

She chuckled. “What’s wrong with that? We’re husband and wife—oh... f*ck...”

His fingers teased her folds with expertise as she clung on his neck as if her life depends on it. Itinaas ni Carter ang isang hita ng kanyang asawa at ikinawit iyon sa kanyang beywang. May kaluwagan ang suot nitong pajama kaya naman hindi iyon naging hadlang sa kanyang binabalak. To his surprise, Soleil let him touch her... in a way that he himself never imagined he would. He rammed his digits inside her as she let out soft moans and gasps, feeling his long fingers deep in her. Making her lose her mind and give in to his charms...

“Ate Sol? Where did you go?”

Mabilis na nahugot ni Carter ang kanyang mga daliri sa loob ng kanyang asawa at napaatras bago inayos ang sarili. He could not tell if it was guilt, or the disappointment, but the sparkle in her eyes instantly became jaded as she heard the voice of Candice looking for her. Kagat-labing inayos ni Soleil ang nagusot na damit bago tumikhim at tiningala siya. “Carter, I--”

He looked away. “I’ll just... sleep in the living room tonight. You can have the room by yourself, Soleil...”

He turned his body away from her, and walked out of the room, his mind and heart in a mess.

Do I still really love you, Sol?