TAINTED INNOCENCE

Chapter 7

“Ms. Bella?”

Napapitlag ako.

Lumingon ako mula sa harap ng laptop, only to find one of the junior designers holding out a fabric swatch. “Uhm, okay lang po ba itong shade ng champagne satin for the bridal set?”

Tumitig ako sa tela, then blinked.

Twice.

Hindi ko alam kung anong tiningnan ko.

Satin ba ‘yun? O lace? Champagne ba ‘yun o beige?

My brain was floating somewhere far—somewhere na amoy expensive cologne, may mababang boses na paulit-ulit kong naririnig sa tenga ko, at mainit ang mga daliring humahaplos sa balat ko nang walang kahirap-hirap.

Dominic…

“Ms. Bella?” ulit ng designer, this time mas kabado.

“Oh—uhm, yes. Fine. Approved. Gamitin niyo na ‘yan,” I said quickly, trying to sound confident kahit wala akong naintindihan.

Pagkaalis niya, napabuntong-hininga ako and leaned back in my seat.

God, anong nangyayari sa’kin?

Wala pa ngang nangyayari sa amin ni Dominic ng totoo, pero pakiramdam ko para na akong nilulunod. Hindi na ako makafocus. Kaninang umaga pa ako nagbubukas-sara ng parehong email, and I’ve been trying to write one sentence for almost 20 minutes.

Para akong sinapian.

At kung sino mang espiritu ‘to, sigurado akong nakahubad, may six-pack, at marunong mag-bulungan ng dirty thoughts sa utak ko kahit wala siya sa paligid.

I bit my lower lip. Hard.

Mali ‘to. Hindi ako dapat ganito. Hindi ako dapat distracted.

Pero every time I tried to get back to work, his voice echoed in my head.

“Tell me what you want, Bella…”

“I’ll teach you what pleasure feels like.”

At lalo na kagabi… when he sent me that photo.

Putangina.

Literal akong napaupo sa kama at napalunok nang malakas.

It was just his mouth—yung isang close-up photo ng lips niya, slightly parted, may konting smirk. Walang ibang caption kundi:

> “Bet mong maramdaman to sa leeg mo?”

Nag-init ang pisngi ko.

Kasunod nun, another photo. This time, it was his toned torso—defined abs na parang sinadya talagang ipakita ang V-line niya pababa sa low waistband ng sweatpants.

At ang caption?

> “Still thinking about our little moment sa penthouse? You were trembling, baby girl.”

Baby girl.

Tangina. Akala ko matino pa ‘ko. Pero the moment I saw that—yung init sa katawan ko, parang na-activate.

Hindi ako maka-concentrate buong araw. Kahit iced coffee, hindi na ako tinablan.

Sa bawat tiklop ng tela, sa bawat pasadahan ko ng tela sa mannequin, I kept imagining what his hands would feel like sa katawan ko. Kung paano niya ako titingnan habang unti-unti akong natutunaw.

At ang mas nakakatakot?

Parang gusto ko pa.

“Bella,” tawag ni Mama habang pumasok siya sa mini studio office namin sa likod ng showroom.

Nagulat ako. Hindi ko siya inaasahan doon. Nakasuot siya ng sleek white pantsuit, with her usual aura of elegance at commanding energy.

“Yes po?” Umayos ako ng upo, trying to look busy kahit wala naman akong matinong nagagawa buong araw.

Nilapag niya ang Hermes bag niya sa gilid, saka tinignan ako from head to toe. Parang scanner. Parang lie detector test.

“You’ve been spacing out since Monday,” she said, arms crossed. “Hindi ka ganyan dati, Bella. You’re usually sharp.”

My throat tightened. “Sorry, Ma. Pagod lang siguro.”

“Pagod?” Tumikhim siya. “You don’t look tired. You look… distracted. Like your mind is somewhere else. Or with someone else.”

Shit.

Hindi ko siya matingnan. Napako ang tingin ko sa sketchpad ko na wala pang progress since kanina.

“Ano bang nangyayari?” tanong niya, her tone softening slightly. “Are you okay? May problema ba sa trabaho? Sa… lalaki?”

I flinched.

I swear, may mom-radar talaga ang mga nanay pagdating sa lalaki. Kasi never niya ako tinatanong ng ganito—never. Pero ngayon? Napansin niya agad.

“Wala po,” mabilis kong sagot. “Okay lang po talaga ako.”

Tumango siya pero halatang hindi naniniwala.

“You’ve always been a good girl,” sabi niya habang pinapanood akong nagkukunyaring magsulat sa sketchpad. “Too good, sometimes. Kaya alam kong may nagbago.”

I forced a small laugh. “M-maybe I’m just… curious. About things.”

“Curious?” She raised a brow. “What kind of things?”

Sex.

Desire.

A man’s mouth on my neck.

My own hand under the sheets, shaking with something I’ve never even dared to name.

Pero hindi ko ‘yan pwedeng sabihin. Kahit kailan.

So I just shrugged. “I guess I’m just growing up, Ma.”

For a moment, tahimik siya. She watched me, like she was trying to read between the lines of my face. Then she said:

“Just make sure, Bella, that whoever is occupying your mind… is worth it. And not someone who will break you.”

Tumango lang ako. “Yes po.”

Pero sa loob-loob ko, gusto kong sumigaw.

He already broke something in me, Ma…

And I think I liked it.

Nasa office ako, nakaharap sa laptop pero wala namang pumapasok sa utak ko. Naka-open ang Pinterest board para sa next collection ni Mama, pero imbes na tela at patterns ang iniisip ko…

Lips.

Abs.

Sin.

Siya.

Dominic Valencia.

Mula pa kagabi, hindi ko siya maalis sa utak ko. After that night sa penthouse—after the blindfold, the whispered “You’re mine now”—parang may nabuksan sa katawan ko na hindi ko na kayang isara ulit.

Napapikit ako. Bad idea.

Dahil sa likod ng eyelids ko, nandun siya. Yung mata niyang parang sinisid ang kaluluwa ko. Yung boses niya na parang bulong ng kasalanan. Yung kamay niya sa bewang ko, mainit, nakakapaso, pero gusto kong paulit-ulit.

Nag-vibrate ang phone ko sa table.

DOMINIC

📷 1 Image Attached

✉️ “Thinking of this?”

Napakabilis ng t***k ng puso ko habang dinadampot ang phone. Tumingin muna ako sa paligid—wala naman nakatingin—then I opened the message.

Holy. f*****g. s**t.

Photo lang siya. But it was enough to short-circuit my brain.

Lips. Just his lips. Slightly parted, may unting smirk. Sinful. Wet. Like he just bit someone he shouldn’t have. Or kissed someone the way no one else had before.

Tumunog ulit ang phone.

📷 Another Image

✉️ “Or maybe this?”

Oh. My. God.

This time, it was his abs. No shirt. Just low-slung gray joggers na halos kita na ang V-line niya. That sharp, masculine line that led straight down to—

I blinked.

Bumilis ang hinga ko.

I was sweating.

Right there. Sa gitna ng workday. Sa harap ng laptop na wala namang ginagawa kundi mag-pretend ako na professional pa rin ako. Pero sa loob-loob ko, para akong basang tuwalya na piniga ng libog.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Tumunog ulit ang phone. One last message:

✉️ “Don’t worry. There’s more. But you have to earn them, baby girl.”

Baby girl?

I bit my lip so hard baka magdugo na.

And worse? Gusto ko pang makita ang kasunod.

What is he doing to me?

Or maybe the better question was...

What am I letting him do?

My Room. Lights off. Only the moon watching.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nandito. O baka alam ko… pero hindi ko pa kayang aminin ng buo.

I was supposed to sleep. I even tucked myself in early para maiba lang ang ikot ng utak ko. Pero kahit anong pilit kong ipikit ang mata ko, siya pa rin ang nakikita ko.

Dominic.

His voice, that husky, low rumble.

His hands, firm and confident.

Yung mga mata niya—dark, hungry, at parang alam ang lahat ng sikreto ko kahit hindi ko pa sinasabi.

At yung mga pictures na pinadala niya kanina? Nakatago sa camera roll ko. Pero kahit wala yun, naka-ukit na sa isipan ko bawat detalye. The sharp line of his jaw. The smug curve of his lips. That sinful, teasing V-line na parang nilikha para pahirapan ako.

Kumakabog ang dibdib ko habang tahimik akong lumingon sa pinto. Nakalock. Thank God. Tapos dahan-dahan kong dinampot ang phone ko sa side table. Binalikan ang messages niya. At habang unti-unting nagli-light up ang screen… parang unti-unti ring lumalakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

Binalikan ko ang picture ng lips niya.

Just his lips. But they made me feel everything.

Parang ramdam ko pa rin kung paano siya huminga sa leeg ko nung gabing 'yon.

Mainit. Mabigat. Mapanganib.

Napakagat ako sa labi ko.

Nagsimulang manginig ang kamay ko habang dahan-dahang gumapang ang isa pa kong kamay pababa.

Hindi ko pa nagagawa ‘to.

Hindi ko pa naisip.

Pero ngayon, parang hindi na ako makapigil.

I close my eyes.

Ini-imagine ko siya.

Yung boses niya habang tinatawag akong “baby girl.”

Yung mga daliri niyang gumagalaw sa braso ko, parang sinasayaw ako sa apoy.

“You’re mine now.”

Biglang umangat ang balakang ko kahit wala namang gumagalaw sa katawan ko kundi ako lang.

Napasinghap ako—mabilis, mahina. Nakakahiya pero ang sarap.

The first brush of pleasure was shy, unsure. Parang ako. Pero habang iniisip ko si Dominic—yung mata niyang parang sinusukat ako, yung ngiti niyang bastos pero pamatay—parang may bumubukas sa loob ko.

Mabagal.

Mainit.

Hindi ko alam kung anong pangalan nito, pero gusto ko pa.

My breathing got heavier.

Napakagat ako sa daliri ko para hindi makagawa ng ingay.

What if marinig ako sa kabilang kwarto?

What if malaman nilang ang tahimik nilang anak…

…ay ginagalugad ang katawan niya dahil sa isang lalaking halos hindi niya pa kilala?

Pero hindi ko na kayang huminto.

The pressure between my legs was building. Like a drumbeat. Like thunder. Like sin waiting to explode.

Ini-imagine ko ang dila niya sa balat ko.

Yung kamay niya na marunong.

Yung boses niya na bulong pero parang utos.

“I’ll teach you everything…”

“Slowly, baby girl.”

And just like that—

I fell.

Hard.

Nag-freeze ako habang nanginginig ang buong katawan ko.

What… what was that?

Hinabol ko ang hininga ko, pinikit ulit ang mata. Tinitigan ang kisame na parang makakasagot ito sa lahat ng tanong ko.

Anong ginawa mo, Bella?

But deep down, kahit gaano ko pa gustong itanggi…

Gusto ko pa ulit.

Dominic’s Penthouse.

Sana hindi ako pumunta.

Sana pinakinggan ko ‘yung boses sa likod ng utak ko na nagsasabing “Delikado ’to, Bella.”

Pero andito pa rin ako.

And I was already inside the elevator. Tulad ng dati.

Pero iba na ngayon.

Kasi ngayon, dala-dala ko ang alaala ng mainit kong gabi mag-isa.

At ang dahilan nito?

Dominic Valencia.

Pagbukas ng elevator, halos hindi ako makahinga. Parang may bigat sa dibdib ko na hindi ko alam kung excitement o takot. But I stepped out anyway—like a moth heading straight into fire.

And there he was.

Dominic was leaning casually sa may mini-bar ng penthouse niya, nakasuot ng dark gray shirt at black slacks, sleeves rolled just enough to show off those veins na parang sinasadya.

“Hi,” I said, trying to sound normal.

He looked up, and when he saw me—parang may nag-shift sa hangin. Like everything became heavier.

He didn’t smile. He just stared.

“You came,” he said, voice low and rough.

I nodded. “Hindi ko rin alam bakit…”

“Sure ka ba d’yan?” Lumapit siya, mabagal. Too slow. Too intentional. “’Cause baby girl, I can make you forget your reasons.”

“Dominic—” I started, but I was already breathless.

“Shhh.” He was in front of me now, hands not touching yet, but close enough to make my skin itch for contact. “No labels. No pressure. I just want to taste you.”

My breath caught.

What?

He leaned forward, one hand gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “Relax,” bulong niya. “I won’t touch what you’re not ready to give. Pero baby… let me have your skin. Just your skin.”

I should’ve said no.

I should’ve run.

But my head tilted back on instinct—eyes fluttering shut—as if giving silent permission.

That was all he needed.

He started at my jawline, feather-light kisses na parang bulong ng hangin. Then lower, sa leeg ko—mabagal, may init, may lalim. Hindi siya nagmamadali. Parang nilalasap ako.

He licked a spot just below my ear.

Sabay bulong: “Right here. I’ve been thinking about this part of you all week.”

My knees buckled, again.

His hands stayed on my waist—gentle, grounding, pero firm enough to say mine. Walang madali. Walang hila. Pero ramdam na ramdam ko ang kontrol.

Every time he pressed his lips on my skin, it left a mark—not literal, pero parang soul-deep. As if his mouth had the power to brand me invisible scars I’d never be able to wash off.

I moaned—too softly, pero enough for him to notice.

He chuckled, breath fanning across my collarbone. “You like that?”

“Dominic…”

“Shhh. Just feel.”

And I did.

I let go.

Let the heat melt every hesitation in me.

Let his mouth show me what it meant to want without shame.

He didn’t touch my chest. He didn’t even go lower.

Just kisses. Just heat.

Sa balikat, sa gilid ng leeg, sa ilalim ng panga.

Pero parang ang buong katawan ko, naglalagablab.

When he finally pulled away, we were both breathing heavily. His forehead leaned against mine.

“You taste like trouble,” he murmured. “And baby… I crave trouble.”

I couldn’t speak.

Hindi dahil wala akong gustong sabihin, kundi dahil baka pag nagsalita ako, lumabas lahat ng desire ko. And I wasn’t ready for him to see how much I was falling.

So I did the only thing I could.

I whispered, “Next time… don’t stop.”

“Next time… don’t stop.”

Those words left my mouth bago pa ako makapag-isip.

At the moment I said it, nakita ko agad ang reaction niya—Dominic's smirk was slow, dangerous, and devastating.

“Don’t stop?” ulit niya, paos na parang nanunukso.

Napalunok ako. My heart was pounding so loud, akala ko maririnig niya. Ang katawan ko, still burning from his mouth. Ang isip ko? War zone. Between wanting him and trying to protect myself.

He stepped closer again, one hand trailing from my waist to the curve of my lower back.

“Kung hihilingin mo ’yan, Bella…” he whispered, “then be ready. Because the next time I touch you, I won’t stop until you forget who you were before me.”

Oh. My. God.

That line alone? I felt it between my thighs.

Napakapit ako sa braso niya nang bahagya—just to steady myself, or maybe to anchor myself to reality. Pero wala na akong makapitan. He was my gravity now.

“I—” I swallowed. “I don’t know what’s happening to me.”

“Simple lang.” He tilted my chin, eyes burning into mine. “You’re waking up.”

“Waking up?”

He nodded, slow and deliberate. “You’ve been living in a cage all your life, Bella. I’m just showing you the sky.”

His words. His voice. His heat.

It was all too much.

But it was also addicting.

I closed my eyes for a second, trying to breathe.

Pero isang hinga pa lang, naamoy ko na agad ang cologne niya—dark, masculine, mixed with desire. And it made me even dizzier.

“I need to go,” I whispered. “B-before I do something I’ll regret.”

He didn't stop me. Pero he leaned down, lips brushing my ear just enough to make me gasp.

“Then go,” he said, barely a whisper. “But next time… don’t run. I want you begging for more.”

DOMINIC’S POV

I watched her stumble out of the penthouse like a lit match trying not to burn down a house.

Her back was too straight. Her steps too fast.

She’s running from herself.

But I knew one thing for sure—Bella Santiago would be back.

Because no matter how innocent she was…

She liked the fire.

BELLA'S POV

Sa loob ng sasakyan, I couldn’t sit still. My thighs were pressed tight, my hands shaking.

Si Manong Andres, tahimik lang sa harap. Thank God.

“I want you begging for more.”

His voice echoed in my head. His mouth still felt like it was on my skin.

I touched the spot sa leeg ko where he kissed me the longest. It still tingled.

Then, I did something I never thought I would.

I opened my phone.

Went to his name.

And typed:

Bella: What would you do to me if I didn’t stop you?

Sinend ko agad. No thinking. Just impulse.

Seconds later, nag-vibrate ang phone ko.

Dominic:

I’d show you what it feels like to be completely owned.

Mind, body, soul.

Lesson one? We haven’t even started, baby.