Chapter 7
1009 Words
Only someone like Brent would think bad ideas were fun.
But no, bad ideas were most definitely not fun.
Brent was smoking hot, and it was clear that their chemistry still sizzled like nothing else, but that didn't mean she could indulge herself. He was still a bad idea, and she'd established that bad ideas were a thing of the past.
She stepped onto the deck, wondering for a moment if she'd dreamed herself onto his boat. The sea had been engulfed by the night, but the air still held a salty tang. Tuloy na ho-home sick siya sa kanilang probinsya. Nakatira kasi sila malapit lang sa dagat.
Shaking her head, she approached the girls. Jenny extended her hand to Charmel and drew her in. Kaya pala ito minahal ni Thompson dahil sobrang gorgeous nito at bubbly din ang personality nito. Para na rin siyang nabunotan ng tinik dahil sa kabila ng paghihiwalay nila ni Thompson, in good terms na sila.
"Saan ka ba nanggaling, huh?" tila nanunudyong untag ni Wendy.
"Nagpa-refill lang ako sa champagne."
"Right." Wendy smirked.
Charmel could feel Brent close behind her, his hands brushing her hips every so often. Everything about the moment replicated that dance five years ago. The alcohol rushed to her head, weakening the bonds of her control. Kahit limang taon na 'yong nakalipas pero hanggang sa mga sandaling iyon ay nararamdaman pa rin niya ang init sa katawan ni Brent tuwing magkalapit sila.
"Ang lagi kong sinasabi na hindi dapat nagsasayaw mag-isa ang magagandang babae." Napabulong si Brent sa tenga niya.
"At lagi ko naman sinasabi na hindi ako kumakagat diyan sa chessy mong pick-up lines." She turned her head slightly, but his arm snaked around her waist and closed the gap between them. Her butt pressed against his pelvis and she resisted the urge to rock against him. "Besides, I'm not on my own."
"Alam ko. Because you're with me."
He spun her around and drew her to him. In sneakers, she could almost reach his collarbone with her lips, and she had an urge to kiss the tattoo that peeked out of his top. She was always fascinated by the ink of a tattoo. The idea of permanence appealed to her. But life had taught her that everything was fleeting: money, success, and love.
"I'm not with you, Brent. You should stop confusing fantasy with reality."
Pakiramdam tuloy niya na namumula ang mukha niya na parang kamatis. With each knock on his hips, his knees, his thighs...she was weakened. Maybe one kiss wouldn't hurt - just so she could see if it was as good as she'd always imagined. Just so she could see if he tasted as amazing as he smelled.
Hinapit naman ni Brent ang beywang niya papalapit dito. She spun back around and stepped out of his grip. Nakita niyang parang drain na rin ang mga kaibigan niya sa kalasingan. Jenny and Thompson went to their cabin already; Emmy and Jessie were finishing off the last bottle of champagne and sat with their legs dangling over the edge of the ship. Wendy was sitting next to them, her phone tucked between her shoulder and her ear.
"Ano na ang gagawin mo ngayon, Miss Perfect?" bulong ulit ni Brent sa tenga niya. "Mukhang tayong dalawa na lang yata ang maiiwan dito."
His fingertip traced from the base of her ear down her neck, until he plucked at the strap of her tank top. Tila yata mag-aapoy sa init ang katawan niya tuwing hahawakan siya nito. The music had been turned down but the bass still rumbled inside her, urging her to swing her hips and brush against him.
"I'm dancing."
"You're taunting me."
It had been so long since she'd been with anyone - so long since she'd experienced any kind of pleasure like this. Just one kiss...just one taste.
She turned, gathering all her energy to say no, but when his hands cupped her face, nawalan tuloy siya ng lakas na magprotesta.
"All that teasing isn't nice, is it?"
"I never teased you." Napakunot ang noo na tugon niya.
"But every step you made teased me, Charmel. You were the epitome of wanting what I couldn't have."
His tongue flicked out against hers, his teeth tugging ever so gently on her lower lip. So close, but not enough. Nowhere near enough.
"You should have got in first."
His gray eyes glinted, the black of his pupils expanding with each heavy breath. "I thought it wasn't finder’s keepers."
"Sometimes you have to take what you want," she whispered.
So he did.
His lips came down on hers as he thrust his hands into the tangled length of her hair, pulling her into place. She offered no resistance, opening to him as one might offer a gift. His scent invaded her, making her knees weaken.
At dahil sa magkadikit nga ang kanilang mga katawan kaya nararamdaman tuloy niya ang paninigas nito. Unable to stop herself, she slipped her hands under his shirt, smoothing up the chiselled flesh beneath. His knee nudged her thighs apart and she gasped as though she were about to come on the spot.
Maghuhunusdili ka, Charmel. Wag na wag kang magpapadala sa tukso.
She jerked back, and the cool night air rushed to fill the void between them. Napapailing na lang siya sa kanyang ulo. Hindi siya maaring magpapadala sa mga pang-aakit sa kanya ng lalaki, dapat mag pokus muna siya sa kanyang career at hindi sa isang Adonis na nasa harapan niya. Ito kasi ang mga lalaking dapat niyang iwasan.
"I'm sorry. Hindi dapat..." She struggled to catch her breath, emotions tangling the words in her head.
He wave his hand. "Alcohol and sea air - it's a dangerous combination."
They stood barely a foot apart, unmoving. He might look calm on the outside, but his eyes gave a glimpse to the storm within.
Around them the night was inky and dark. The breeze rolled past them, caressing her skin as he had done moments ago.
"Talagang mapanganib nga." paanas niya.
*****
- Writer
