SEDUCTION SERIES 3: SINFUL HEARTBEATS

ROXIE couldn't help but sigh when she saw a familiar woman enter the lobby of Hotel Khallisa. Siguradong naroroon na naman ito para hanapin ang asawa'ng madalas na mangaliwa kahit ilang beses na nga nilang sinabing banned na ang lalake sa lahat ng branch ng Hotel Khallisa. "I told you, ma'am, our bosses do not want cheating men to use Hotel Khallisa for their acts of adultery," bungad niya bago pa man ito makapagsalita. The woman sniffed. "No, I didn't come here for my husband. I actually need a suite for myself." Her puffy eyes looked at Rox. "I finally filed an annulment." Muntik na yatang mapakanta ng Hallelujah si Rox dahil sa narinig. Ah! Finally. Isa na namang babae ang nakalaya mula sa isang hindi pinagpalang pagsasama. Praise the Lord. Ngumiti nang malapad si Rox. "Then I would be glad to give you one of our best suites." She lifted a finger. "Although all of our suites are the best. Sir Khalil made sure Hotel Khallisa would be as fine as his wife." She made a French kiss as she felt proud of the hotel she's working for. Papaano naman kasing hindi siya magiging proud kung sa Hotel Khallisa nga naman siya nagtatrabaho? Rox heard enough about the founding of the famous Hotel Khallisa. The so-called hotel of true love has always been her dream hotel. Kaya nga halos tawagin niya ang lahat ng santo nang mag-apply siya roon. "Thank you, Roxie," the woman said before scanning the place. "Pero totoo ba talagang ipinapa-ban ang mga manloloko sa lahat ng hotel ninyo?" "Yes, ma'am," she said proudly. "Once we get notified that the guest is seeing a mistress in our hotel, we immediately put them in our blacklist. Sir Khalil is serious about faithfulness. Sana all, 'no?" She giggled but when she realized that her last words hit the wrong nerve, Rox immediately shut her lips and just gave the woman's keycard to the room boy. "Sixth floor, room number eleven. Enjoy the love Hotel Khallisa brings." Pilit na lamang na ngumiti ang babae bago ito umalis. The room boy escorted her, and when the two finally took the lift, Rox let out the heavy air inside her lungs. "Another free soul. Tsk tsk." She shook her head and looked at her colleague. "Kaya ikaw bago ka mag-aasawa, kilatisin mong mabuti. Hindi lahat ng lalake kagaya ng mga Ducani. Pamilyang tapat, nawa'y magpakarami agad." Irma laughed softly. "Puro ka kalokohan, Rox. Para sa akin ba 'yang payo mo o para sa sarili mo?" Rox rolled her eyes. "Syempre both." Nagpangalumbaba si Irma. "Mabuti pa si Cyra 'no nakabingwit na ng chupapi na may dugong Ducani? Balita ko nagtino sa kanya si Sir Jael Marasigan." Umismid si Rox. "Wala pa rin akong tiwala. Hangga't hindi ko nakikitang ngumangawa 'yong si Marasigan para lang pakasalan ni Cyra, ekis pa rin. Sa gwapo niyang 'yon, naku." "Loka-loka. Kahit panget nagloloko naman na ngayon, ano. Hindi na batayan ang itsura." Marahan siya nitong sinipat sa braso. "Kaya pala nagpapalakas sayo si Sir Jael. Ikaw na lang pala ang hindi pa nagta-thumbs up sa kanya para kay Cyra. Ayaw mo bang maging happy si Cy? Ang dami nang trahedyang dinaanan ng lovelife ng gagang 'yon." "Exactly! Kaya nga hindi ko pa muna pinapayagang seryosohin ang kaharutan nila." Irma giggled. "Para kang nanay ni Cyra, gaga." Tumaas ang kanyang kilay. "Hindi ba? Eh lagi nga akong naglilinis ng suka no'n, 'di ba? At ayaw ko na kaya utang na loob, hindi na 'yon pwedeng ma-brokenhearted ulit dahil ako ang mas nagdudusa." She looked at her wrist watch. "Oh, paano? Out na ko. May dinner pa kami nina Cyra." "Pakibatok na lang siya for me." She smirked. "Sure." Rox walked towards their locker and took her bag. Nag-retouch pa muna siya bago tuluyang umalis upang puntahan ang meeting place nila ng kaibigan at ng boyfriend nito. Nang makarating sa resto na sinabi ni Cyra, kaagad na pinasadahan ni Rox ng tingin ang buong lugar hanggang sa mapadapo ang kanyang mga mata sa isang partikular na mesa. She gasped and held the strap of her bag tighter while she scans the man slouching on his seat. His dark hair looked disheveled as if he had ran his fingers onto it several times. Wala na rin itong suot na neck tie at ang unang tatlong butones ng puting polo ay naka-unbutton na. Damn, her ovaries felt like exploding for a Greek god in flesh! Look at those prominent bone structures? His jaw is so defined and his nose, ugh! Pointy and narrow. Mukhang masungit ang pares ng mga matang nagtatago sa makapal na pilikmata, at ang mga labi... Diyos ko po! Parang nanuyo yata ang kanyang lalamunan nang makita ang biceps nitong tila nasasakal sa suot na suit. Lalo naman siyang hindi nakagalaw sa kinatatayuan nang makita itong nilagok ang alak sa baso. Oh, his adam's apple made him look more sexy. Shutanginers, sa ganyan masarap magpawarak! Napalunok siya sa kagagahang naisip. Ano ba 'yan? Bakit naman na-activate bigla ang maharot na bahagi niya? Ano bang mayroon sa lalakeng iyon at parang hindi lamang ang kanyang puso ang pumintig? Cyra lifted her hand when she saw Rox. "Over here, girl!" Napabaling sa kanya si Jael pati ang lalakeng kasama ng mga ito sa mesa. Para tuloy tutumba si Rox nang magtama ang kanilang tingin ng lalake. Diyos mio, marimar! Parang na-transport yata bigla ang kaluluwa niya sa Mount Olympus! That man is looking at her as if he's a God who effortlessly makes her feel his glory! Diyos ko, parang gusto ko yatang sumamba sa isang 'to. Lord, pakisabuyan naman ako ng Holy Water now na bago pa ako magpalamon sa apoy ng kaharutan. Strong independent woman po ako pero punyeta luluhod ako rito, Lord! She took a sharp breath then walked towards the table. Halos kurutin pa niya ang kanyang sarili habang naglalakad dahil nangangatog ang kanyang mga tuhod. Paano ba naman kasi ay ramdam niya ang titig ng lalake na tila hindi ito natatakot na makita niyang tinitignan siya nito. He's like a freaking God watching a sinner come towards him to beg for his mercy, and Rox doesn't know why she feels conscious all of a sudden even when she's known for having a lot of confidence in her body. Jael stood up to pull a seat for her. Naitapat pa siya sa lalake kaya naman nang makaupo siya at hindi naiwasang mapatingin dito, halos mapakapit nang husto si Rox sa kanyang bag nang makita ang kyuryosidad sa masungit na pares ng mga mata nito. Magsasalita na sana si Jael upang ipakilala sila sa isa't isa nang may lumapit ditong kakilala. Jael and Cyra excused themselves for a moment, making Rox panic internally. Nang mawala ang dalawa matapos tawagin sa may garden area ay napatikhim si Rox saka nagkunwaring nililibot ang tingin sa paligid. She could feel the man still gazing at her while he's drinking his whiskey, and when their eyes met once more, he licked off the stain of alcohol on his lips before he finally blessed her ears with his deep yet sexy voice. "I'm Zeus." Sinangkal nito ang siko sa mesa at inalok ang palad sa kanya. Napababa naman doon ang tingin ni Rox, at nang makita ang mga daliri nito, halos mapalunok siya sa kahalayang naisip. She took a silent breath and pressed her knees together before she accepted his hand. "R—Roxie." A slight curve made its way to the corners of his lips. "Your hand feels cold. Am I making you uncomfortable?" Napalunok si Rox at binawi ang kanyang kamay nang maramdaman ang nakakikiliting kuryenteng dumaloy sa kanyang katawan matapos nitong haplusin ng hinlalaki ang likod ng kanyang palad. "N—No. I'm just..." She sighed in defeat. "Yeah. A little." Ngumisi ito. "You're cute." He sipped on his glass then sighed. "I bet they won't get away from the Mercedez couple. I'm having a f****d up day and I really need some fun before I lose my mind." Napakurap siya. "Ohh... kay? Want do you wanna do then?" He leaned on his seat and raked his hair while still looking at her. "f**k? Drink some more? Mark you all over?" He smirked. "Only if you want to." Naghuramentado ang kanyang puso. "Are you... inviting me to... have s*x with you?" Zeus' eyes twinkled with something dangerous, as if he's hypnotizing her to agree with what he wants. "Like I said, only if you want to." He touched his jaw with his left hand but Rox was too occupied to even notice the ring on his finger. "Would you like to?" Napalunok siya. "I'm... a virgin." A hint of interest flickered in his eyes. "Then we can do something about that, Roxie..." She doesn't know what really got into her head. Tila naging mabilis ang mga pangyayari. Ang alam na lamang niya, sabay silang nagtungo sa parking lot ng resto, sabay na sumakay sa elevator, at nang nakapasok sila sa penthouse nito, halos dumaing siya nang husto nang tuluyan nitong sinakop ang kanyang mga labi. Rox gasped when she felt his warm hand on her lower back. Mayamaya ay inanggulo nito ang kanyang ulo upang mahalikan ang kanyang panga saka ito bumulong sa kanyang tainga habang tinutudyo nito ang edge ng kanyang palda. "I'm going to take it as gentle as I can, Roxie." His hot and minty breath fanned her skin. "But once you get used to it, I'll conquer you ruthlessly until you get addicted to me..." Napalunok siya. "Is that... a threat?" Zeus smiled devilishly before he unzipped her skirt then cupped her ass. "No, sweetheart. I'm stating a fact..." He touched her lips with his fingertips. "You will be my greatest sin... and I have a feeling that I wouldn't regret claiming you tonight..."