Once Ice Grieves

EIGHT: Before The Worst

“WELL, that was fun,” may ngiting wika ni Adrian nang sa wakas ay maiparada niya ang kotse ko sa basement ng building. Hinatid ko siya sa main entrance para makauwi na dahil lumalalim na rin ang gabi at may pasok pa kinabukasan. “Except, of course, for the teasing we got. That was awkward.”

Natawa ako, naalala ang hiya niya kanina habang inaasar kami ng mga ilang naging mutual clients namin sa event. They dubbed us as the future power couple of advertising. It was really awkward but amusing nonetheless.

“I’m sure nagbibiro lang sila. It is rare to see bachelors in this industry with your age and your looks.”

Napahawak siya sa kanyang batok at iling na napangiti. “Kung gano’n lang kadaling makahanap ng mapapangasawa eh hindi ko pipiliing maging bachelor sa edad kong ‘to.”

I smiled again but didn’t say anything. Nang marahil ay mapansin niya iyon ay iminuwestra niya ang kalsada sa kanyang likuran. “Pa’no, mauna na ‘ko, Ice. Salamat ha.”

Tumango ako. “Salamat din. Ingat ka.”

He gave me a single nod and turned away to walk down the street. Ilang ulit siyang lumingon para kumaway hanggang sa mawala na lamang siya sa paningin ko. I waited for a bit bago ko inilabas ang cell phone ko mula sa bulsa ng aking purse at pinadalhan ng mensahe si Griffin para ipaalam na nasa building na ako ng penthouse.

It wasn’t even a minute after I placed the phone back to the purse when a black SUV pulled up in front of me. Napakurap-kurap ako, saka lamang nakilala ang sasakyan nang umibis si Luis mula sa driver seat at umikot para buksan ang pintuan ng passanger’s seat para sa akin.

Sumakay ako sa kotse, expecting to find Griffin there but realized he’s not. Nang makasakay si Luis pabalik at masigurong okay na ako sa kinauupuan ay agad niyang pinaandar ang sasakyan. I scoot forward in my seat, itching to find something to say dahil sa pagkailang sa katahimikan ng kotse.

“Gaano na po kayo katagal nagtatrabaho kay Griffin? Parang hindi ko po kayo nakikita dati.” Back then he had a different younger driver and a female assistant.

Sumulyap sa rearview mirror si Luis at ngumiti sa akin. “Simula ho noong umalis siya sa kompanya ng pamilya niya. Medyo matagal na rin ho.”

Around the same time I was exiled to America. Mga thirteen years na ang nakakalipas, give and take. “Ang tagal na nga po. Dati na ho kayong assistant?”

Umiling siya, his gaze remained on the road but his smile was indulgent. “Hindi, Ma’am. Dati po akong detective.”

My brow arched at that. “Private po?”

“PNP, Ma’am.”

Napakurap ako, hindi inaasahan ang layo ng itinalon ni Luis sa dati niyang trabaho. I wasn’t really sure why I wanted to ask that but I got curious with his relationship with Griffin. He seemed to be his right hand man, doubling as a trusted assistant and a driver at his disposal.

Fifteen minutes later, we pulled up at a familiar black gate planked by two gate post lamps that are lit giving it a romantic vibe in the middle of the night. Sa pagtataka ko’y kinailangan ni Luis na bumaba ng kotse para buksan ang gate at bumalik ulit para imaneho iyon papasok sa bahay at sa garahe.

“Wala pong maid si Griffin?” kuryoso kong tanong.

Luis had been preparing to round the car and open my door for me then. “Tuwing araw lang sila nandito, Ma’am. Ayaw ni Sir Griffin ng tao sa bahay niya kaya pumupunta lang sila rito kapag wala siya sa bahay.”

That wasn’t a surprirse to me. Pribadong tao si Griffin. But so as my grandfather but he keeps his employed maids at the house at his beck-and-call.

Iginiya ako palabas ni Luis sa garahe at patungo sa main door. It was the same one I rushed out of not long ago. Ngayong hindi ako nagmamadali, I took my time to admire the structure of the house from the outside. It was a contemporary home, the build was very minimalistic and sharp with the edges. Masculine, gaya ng nakatira roon. The only pop of colors are gray, and copper. The walls on the second floor were alternated with glass window panels boxed with ash gray frames. Simple lang ang bahay pero hindi maipagkakamaling si Griffin ang nakita roon. It screamed so much of his personality—edgy, clean, and straightforward.

Pinagbuksan ako ni Luis ng pintuan ngunit nanatili siya sa labas na ipinagtaka ko. “Hindi po kayo papasok?”

His smile was bright. “Hindi na po, Miss Lyselle. Babalik po ako bukas para sunduin kayo ni Sir Griffin. Magandang gabi ho.”

Iyon lamang at isinarado niya ang pintuan. I blinked, at a loss with what just happened.

Sumalubong sa akin ang grand piano na nasa living area. The same one I saw that night. Bumalik sa alaala ko ang ginawa ko at ang itsura ni Griffin habang tumutugtog doon. Instantly, I can feel my blood pumping at kaagad kong hinanap si Griffin sa bahay.

I found him at the kitchen, wearing a black sweat shorts and a white V-neck cotton shirt that revealed his collar bones and hugged his frame so tight I could slightly see his ripped abdomen outlined through the fabric. Suddenly I felt ridiculously overdressed with the little black dress I wore from the event. Dapat pala ay umakyat muna ako sa penthouse para magbihis ng kaswal na damit. Nawala sa isip ko iyon dahil sa pag-aalalang baka masyado nang late kung mag-aabala pa ako sa damit.

Huminto si Griffin sa ginagawa niyang paglilipat ng mga pagkain sa pan patungo sa mga plato at nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. Mamasa-masa pa ang buhok niya, tila kagagaling lamang sa paligo. I liked his hair that way though. Nakababa at hindi na inabalang ayusin, wet strands framing his forehead seductively.

Heat pooled in between my thighs and I forced myself to smile. “Hi.”

Hinagod ako ng tingin niya mula ulo hanggang paa at pabalik. I can see the same lust reflected in his eyes and I suddenly felt hot. “You look ravishing.”

I snorted. “In a two-hundred-fifty peso dress bought in a thrift shop and paired with a ninety-five peso sneakers?”

A slow smile lined his mouth just before picking up the two plates and walking towards me. Naghalo ang amoy ng steak sa pinggan at ang amoy niya, both citrusy and minty, nang huminto siya sa harap ko at yumukod ng bahagya para bumulong sa tainga ko. “My hard c**k will prove what I just said, princess.”

Agad na napatingin ako sa ibaba at sa gitna ng kanyang mga hita. My eyes widened when I saw the visible erection trapped in his sweat shorts. Nahigit ko ang hininga ko at nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya, his evilish grin transforming his angelic face into something dangerous and my s*x clenched. He brushed his lips across mine and settled with a voiceless “Hello” bago ako lagpasan at magtuloy-tuloy sa dining area.

May ilang segundo bago ako nakahuma sa interaksyong iyon. Kinailangan ko pang paypayan ang mukha ko, umaasang mawawala ang init doon bago magdesisyong sumunod na sa kanya bago pa siya magtaka at sunduin ako roon.

I saw that he placed the plates near to each other. Nakaabang na siya sa likod ng upuan na nasa kanan ng kabisera kung nasaan ang isang plato na malamang ay sa kanya, iniurong niya iyon para makaupo ako bago siya naupo sa sariling silya.

“Alam kong galing ka sa event,” he said, his gaze intent on the steak on his plate that he instantly cut into pieces. “But I hope you still have room for more food.”

Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong magkomento sa pagkaing inihain kanina sa event. Afterall, we’re just after-thoughts but I still have an axe to grind with the caterer and the organizer. In the end, I couldn’t help but be snappy about it. “They served finger foods. That didn’t even occupy half a room.”

That elicited an amused chuckle. Mayamaya’y ipinagpalit niya ang plato namin, revealing the steak he was cutting to be mine. Napatigil ako ng ilang sandali, hindi inaasahan ang ganoong gesture mula sa kanya. It was a small thing, something that I shouldn’t even be noticing because it was possible that Griffin is just being himself—the ever consummate gentleman—but I wasn’t wired that way. Lumaki akong mag-isa, lahat ng bagay para sa sarili’y ako ang gumagawa. I take notice when other people takes care of me because I was so used to doing everything by myself.

“May problema ba?”

Napakurap ako at agad na nag-angat ng tingin mula sa pinggan sa harap ko. I realized na may katagalan na pala ang pagkakatulala ko roon. Ngumiti ako kay Griffin at umiling kasabay ng pagdampot ko sa mga utensils na nasa gilid. “Nothing. Just admiring the plating.”

Hindi ko alam kung naniwala siya roon pero hindi siya nagsalita. He silently watched me take in my first bite. The first time the taste hit my tongue, I wanted to moan. Piniit ko lamang iyon dahil alam kong nanonood siya’t ayokong palakihin ang ulo niya, but God the steak tasted heavenly. What can’t this man do? Sigurado ba siyang tao siya? It should be illegal for a human this perfect to exist!

“So how was your day?” mayamaya’y usisa niya.

Ngumuya ako, binigyan ang sarili ng oras para isipin kung paano ia-approach ang sagot sa tanong na iyon. Talking about each other’s day sounded intimate. I don’t think that’s something casual f**k buddies would do.

“Okay lang. Back to back meetings, a late night event. But I managed to steal a quickie with the handsome CEO at the top floor of my building though.”

Luminyang muli ang ngiti sa kanyang labi, revealing a boyish charm that has melted a lot of women’s heart. “I’ll never look at my office the same way again.”

Umarko ang kilay ko. “First time mo ‘yon sa opisina?”

Amusement twinkled in his eyes. “Contrary to what you’re probably thinking, princess, I’m discreet. Before you, I only ever had s*x in a hotel. I’m not an exhibitionist.”

Ako naman ang nakaramdam ng amusement sa sinabi niya. “And here my friends thought I was too vanilla.”

Warmth engulfed the twinkle in his eyes and he reached out a hand to feather against my cheek. “You’re anything but vanilla.”

My gaze darkened, something feral within me rising up to agree. If I have Griffin King all to myself, I would want him six different ways to Sunday.

“SO… hindi mo ba ako itu-tour?” usisa ko habang pinapanood siyang magsalin ng pinot noir sa kanyang baso habang ang akin ay hindi pa nangangalahati. The bottle’s half empty now and he set that down atop the kitchen’s counter.

Mula sa baso’y itinuon niya ang atensyon niya sa akin. I was perched atop the bar stool beside him, my bare feet swinging back and forth whimsically.

“You’ve been here before.”

“Yeah. But I ran away, remember? Wala akong masyadong naging oras para ikutin ang bahay mo. Besides,” I leaned forward and casually brushed a few fingers across his collarbone. I felt him tense. “I know a way to make the tour exciting.”

He smiled. “I like this playful side of you, princess.”

Naningkit ang mga mata ko sa kanya. I can see him reigning back the lust and I got confused. “Griffin. If you’re delaying f*****g me, that’s bad. I must be doing something very very wrong.”

Nakita ko ang kagyat na pagbabago ng reaksyon niya. The smile faded and a dangerous glint in his eyes replaced the indulgence. Saglit siyang nag-iwas ng tingin upang lagukin ng deretso ang hawak na alak at inilagay ang baso sa counter pagkatapos. He stood straight then picked up my hand that was holding the wine glass. He plucked out the glass from my grip and set it beside his and then to my surprise, he slid that same hand inside his sweat shorts. My breath hitched when I felt the hard, warm length of his erection against my palm. When I looked at him, his jaw was set and his shoulders were tensed while he closed the small gap between us, stepping in between my parted thighs.

Natagpuan ko ang mukha niya na halos hangin na lamang ang naghihiwalay mula sa akin. His lips parted when I ran my finger against his flesh and I can smell the wine from his breath.

“Hindi mo alam ang sinasabi mo, Lyselle,” he gritted and a sharp hiss came out of his mouth when he suddenly pulled my hand out of his shorts, as if that little act pained him. “I’ve been in this state ever since you left my goddamned office and I want nothing else but to be deep inside you.”

Now that’s the language I speak. Lust. Pure unbridled lust.

I grinned against his lips. “That’s bad still… but on a different level.”

Napasinghap ako nang bigla niya akong buhatin paangat sa counter. He kicked the stools aside and slid his hands beneath my dress. In one swift motion, natanggal niya ang underwear ko. He tossed it on the floor and he perched his hands at the marble counter and looked up at me, his eyes hooded with desire.

“Kiss me,” he demanded gruffly.

Awtomatikong gumawi ang mga kamay ko sa kanyang buhok at inilapat ang labi ko sa kanya. He opened my mouth with his tongue, invaded it and played with mine. When he stopped, he replaced his mouth with his thumb, making me suckle it as he watched. The hand disappeared beneath my dress and one moment later, I can feel the wet pad of his finger rubbing against my c**t in a circular motion. My eyes went heavy with the building desire and I moaned.

“Griffin…”

“God, you’re so f*****g beautiful…” He groaned and licked the side of my neck and sucked on my earlobes. “I want to taste you.”

My eyes snapped open but before I can protest, he ducked down and under my dress, his hands now at the small of my back, urging me forward. One second later, I squealed when I felt the warmth of his wet tongue darting across my wet opening up to my c**t. “Fuuuuck!”

My hands fisted his hair, not sure whether to pull him away or push him against me more. In the end, wala akong naging pagpipilian kung hindi ang isarado na lamang ang aking mga mata at damhin ang hagod ng labi niya. He sucked, licked and at one point even pushed his tongue inside me. I threw my head back and my legs shook, moaning so much that I was so sure someone heard me from the outside.

Habol-hininga ako nang tumigil ng bahagya ang panginginig ng mga hita ko. Nararamdaman ko ang maliliit na halik ni Griffin sa hita ko bago mayamaya’y tumuwid siya ng tayo at kinalap ako para ialis sa ibabaw ng counter. My legs wrapped around the small of his back and my arms flew around his neck. He moved towards the living room and I kissed his soft, swelling mouth.

“You should have this mouth insured,” I teased with a hoarse voice.

Ngumisi siya at pinisil ang hita ko. “After I had all of you insured.”

I smiled at ibinaon na ang aking mukha sa kanyang leeg, addicted to the faint scent of his perfume and own sweat. Naramdaman ko siyang umaakyat sa hagdan. Dahan-dahan kong ipinasok ang mga kamay ko sa loob ng kanyang t-shirt at hinaplos ang kanyang likuran. I felt his breath fan the side of my neck before his lips followed suit. Not long after, nagbukas siya ng pintuan at pumasok sa isang madilim na silid kung saan ang tanging ilaw lamang ay ang sinag ng bilog na buwan na nagmumula sa transparent sliding door ng balkonahe.

It took a while before I was able to adjust my eyes with darkness of the room. Naaninag ko ang mesa, isang sofa at bookshelves sa gilid. A study room or perhaps a home office of some sort. I realized Griffin was heading to the table and I perked up. “No, no, no. Not there. Sa balcony.”

Napahinto siya, pinakiramdaman ako saglit sa kadiliman. Then he rerouted and took me to the balcony. When his back was pressed against the railing, I squirmed, wanting to be let down. He understood and he carefully planted me back to the ground. Naramdaman ng mga hubad kong talampakan ang lamig ng sahig. That didn’t matter though. I was unfastening the strap of my dress so quickly when Griffin pulled it back all of a sudden.

“No.”

Kumunot ang noo ko. “No? Ayaw mo akong maghubad?”

There was a glint in his eye that made my heart pound with lust. “Later. For now, you’re my princess in a black dress.”

Napangisi ako. I liked what he’s picturing.

I tugged at the drawstring of his shorts while he reached from behind and pulled off his shirt in one swift motion. A sharp intake of breath was audible when I saw both his rock hard abs revealed and his equally hard d**k jump out of the fabric. My tongue darted out on its own accord to lick my lip. Kinuha ko ang kamay niya at ipinosisyon iyon sa magkabilang dulo, perched atop the railing. Nang dahan-dahan akong bumaba upang lumuhod sa harapan niya, nakita ko ang parehong mga kamay na iyon na humawak ng mahigpit sa railing, gripping it so tight that I could see veins bulging through his arms.

I heard him hiss when I touched his c**k to lift it. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya, the moon was shining brightly on the side of his face, his hair messy and falling over his forehead, arms stretched out on its side and gripping the railing, his gaze on me so intent and full of wanting and his lips parted in anticipation. My blood hummed and my mouth watered in excitement. Without breaking the eye contact, my mouth circled the tip of his c**k and I saw him draw a sharp breath. My tongue darted out as I took him all the way and he threw his head back with eyes shut.

“f**k!” he groaned, his grip on the railing going tighter.

Nang muli siyang yumuko upang tignan ako, I was so impossibly turned on with the storm brewing in his eyes. Napangisi ako at umungol, the vibration against his shaft travelled through and I can tell he felt that when he hissed at me, his eyes spitting fires that burned and wet my core.

Iniluwa ko siya, swiped a lick on the head in a teasing a manner and smiled up at him innocently. “If this is how angels taste, I can understand the sinners who willingly went to hell just for a single drop.”

His jaw clenched. “Put my c**k back inside your hot mouth, princess. I’ll give you every single drop over and over again as much as you wish.”

I happily obeyed.

Griffin was thick and overwhelmingly huge. I couldn’t almost close my fingers around his girth but I was shocked to feel him still growing inside my mouth. Hindi ko alam kung pakiramdam ko lamang ba iyon o sadyang nagkamali lamang ako ng estima sa kanya.

I enjoyed watching his reactions while I suck his c**k. It was a pleasure seeing him lose his mind at every lick and every suction. Griffin isn’t dangerous at default. He was a consummate gentleman who had a ready smile at anyone and a polite word for people. The face of an angel. But I bet no one sees this side of him. Anything angelic in him is replaced by a devilish and dangerous intent, only hunger to fulfill his most basic desire the one thing written so visibly across his face.

“You like me losing my mind, don’t you, princess?” he rasped, his teeth gritted and his breath held back while he watched. “You like seeing me wild with desire for you.”

I took him out, lifted his c**k so I could lick the underside which elicited a feral grunt from him. “Uh-huh.”

With a groan, his hand replaced mine over his shaft and I saw him squeezed it hard. Kasabay niyon ang paghila ng isa niyang kamay sa braso ko patayo. He spun me around and I ended up facing the railing. Ang isa niyang braso ay pumaikot sa baywang ko at ang isa’y itinataas ang laylayan ng itim kong dress. I turned my head to look for his lips and he was already one step ahead of me. He took my mouth in a wet kiss, his tongue no longer playful. It’s taking, aggressive in its swirling. Naramdaman ko ang kamay niya sa ilalim ng aking hita, itinataas iyon para isampa sa barandilya.

I moaned inside the kiss when I felt his c**k in my opening, rubbing seductively across my slit and my c**t. My body shuddered with anticipation.

“f**k, you’re so wet for me,” he panted against my mouth, visibly turned on by that discovery. Then he slowly pushed. I gasped and arched against him. His groan vibrated against my cheek when he pressed his mouth against my face in a repressed groan. “Oh, fuuuck!”

I bit my lip and moaned, savoring the feel of his hot length stretching me inside. Not a minute after, he pulled back just enough for the tip to remain. And then slowly, he pushed back in from root to tip this time, so deep I could feel a mixture of pain and pleasure that my legs shook uncontrollably.

“I can’t, I can’t! You’re so deep!”

He spun me around again without pulling out. He backed us into the corner where the sliding door is and he pressed my back against it. He took my shaking leg and lifted it, widening his access to my opening.

“Hold on tight,” he whispered, his forehead pressed against mine and his breathing erratic and heavy.

Ipinaikot ko ang kamay ko sa leeg niya at nagdampi ng halik. It felt like something inside him snapped and he pushed to the hilt again, making me cry out. His slow strokes earlier was no more. He was like an animal starved when he thrusted in and out so fast, pulling back to the tip and pushing back in from the root, sending me to multiple orgasms.

“Griffin! s**t!”

“This turns you on, doesn’t it?” he grunted, his gruff voice floated across the cold dead night along with the sounds of flesh slamming together.

I screamed into his neck and fisted his hair, wanting to match his wildness. “And it turns you on imagining you’re f*****g a little princess, doesn’t it?” I bit back, the words coming out as a snarl.

His grin was dangerous, sinister even. And I know at the back of my mind that I should’ve been scared with that. But I wasn’t. I never wanted him more than at that moment when he revealed who he was. “As much as it turns you on imagining you’re f*****g an angel.”

He was f****d up, too. I don’t know how I’ve never seen that. Or how I did just now. I just know at that certain moment that he was f****d up in the head as I am.