Collision of Hearts

Chapter 8

“Miss me?” sabi ng babae, suot ang pulang dress na tila ginawa para lang sa kanya. Matangkad. Maputi. Fierce. Parang piniling manakit gamit ang elegance.

Nakatayo ako sa itaas ng hagdan, hawak pa rin ang baril na hindi ko na yata kailangan—dahil hindi bala ang pinakawalan niya. Kundi presence.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nanlamig.

Hindi ako marupok.

Hindi ako insecure.

Pero nung makita kong tinitigan niya si Damon na para bang siya pa rin ang mundo nito—parang biglang nag-crack ang confidence ko.

“Isabella,” sagot ni Damon, malamig ang boses, pero hindi galit. Hindi rin masyadong nagulat.

At doon ako nagsimulang mabahala.

She laughed, mahina lang, pero sapat para manglamig ang batok ko. “So this is where you’ve been hiding… in a jungle… with a little pet project?”

She looked up.

Diretso sa akin.

Tumingin sa akin na para bang sinusukat ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong tumawa o magbasag ng salamin.

“Cute,” sabi niya, para bang ako ang laruan.

Bumaba ako ng ilang hakbang sa hagdanan, pilit na pinapakalma ang puso ko kahit pa parang bombang sasabog ito.

“Skyra Monteverde,” pakilala ko, matatag ang boses.

“Ah,” ngiti niya. “The heiress.”

Bumaling siya kay Damon. “No wonder you disappeared. You always liked them rich. And complicated.”

“Cut the games, Isabella,” sabi ni Damon. “Why are you here?”

Pero hindi siya sumagot agad. Imbes, naglakad siya palapit sa mesa ng villa, inikot ang daliri sa baso ng alak na naiwan, saka ito dinampot.

Uminom.

Kahit walang permiso.

Kahit nasa teritoryo ko siya.

“Just visiting,” aniya. “Couldn’t resist.”

Tumingin siya ulit sa akin. “She doesn’t know, does she?”

“About what?” sagot ko agad.

Her smile widened.

Damn that smile.

Parang alam niya ang hindi ko alam. At mas lalong parang gusto niyang malaman kong—huli na ang lahat.

Naramdaman kong naglakad si Damon papunta sa likod ko. Pero hindi ako tuminag. Nakatingin lang ako kay Isabella.

“Saan kayo nagkakilala?” tanong ko, diretsahan.

“Oh, we go way back,” bulong niya. “Damon and I were… intimately entangled. In business. In bed. Sometimes both at once.”

She tilted her head. “But I’m sure he told you that.”

Did he?

Naramdaman kong lumamig ang sikmura ko.

Bakit parang hindi ko alam kung sino ang kalaban ko?

At bakit parang nagugulo ako sa sariling pakiramdam?

Hindi ako dapat natitinag. Pero sa bawat salita niya, parang may tinutuklap siya sa akin—unti-unti.

“You think he’s dangerous?” tanong niya. “Wait until you find out what he did to me.”

“Isabella—” Damon warned.

“Oh, come on. She deserves to know. Or are we still playing the protector act?”

Her eyes glinted. Not with fear. But with war.

At ako?

Naipit sa pagitan.

Between the man I barely trust…

…and the woman who clearly knows how to break him.

Damon didn’t say a word. Nakapwesto siya sa gilid ko, pero hindi siya gumagalaw. Hindi siya nag-aabot ng paliwanag, ng reassurance—ng kahit ano.

At doon ako unti-unting nagliyab sa loob.

She stepped closer to him. Slowly. Seductively. Parang leyonang naamoy ang dating pag-aari niya.

“I see you still wear black,” sabi ni Isabella, tinatapik ang braso ni Damon. “Still hiding all that darkness under sleek layers of control.”

Nag-freeze ang katawan ko. Pero si Damon? Walang sinabi. Walang galaw.

Naglakad si Isabella sa likod niya. Dumaan ang kamay nito sa balikat niya… pababa sa dibdib.

At sa mga segundong iyon, para akong nawala.

Putang ina.

I was watching another woman touch the man who just kissed every inch of me. Who swore to protect me. Who whispered “You’re mine.”

At ngayon, hindi man lang siya umaatras?

“Ayoko ng drama,” sabi ko, malamig. “Pero kung maghuhubad na kayo, pakiusap lang—gawin niyo sa labas.”

Isabella laughed. “Oh sweetheart, is that jealousy I hear?”

“No,” sagot ko, blank. “That’s boredom.”

I took a step forward. Matigas ang tingin ko kay Damon.

“Say something,” utos ko. Hindi tanong. Utos.

Pero nanatili siyang tahimik.

His jaw was clenched. His eyes unreadable.

At si Isabella—she was loving every second of it.

She leaned in, whispered something sa tenga ni Damon. I didn’t hear the words, but I saw the smirk on her lips as she stepped back.

“You didn’t tell her, did you?” tanong ni Isabella, malakas na ngayon. “About how you used to beg for me. About how you’d choke on guilt after we fucked.”

Tumiklop ang palad ko sa gilid ng hita ko. Para akong sinampal, pero hindi sa mukha — kundi sa puso.

“Enough,” bulong ni Damon.

“She should know who you are,” aniya, eyes blazing. “You’re no hero, Damon. You’re destruction in disguise.”

“Then leave,” sagot ko, boses ko'y nanginginig sa galit. “Bago ko sirain ang mukha mo sa sahig na ‘to.”

She smiled again. “And there it is — the fire.”

She faced me directly. “Careful, sweetheart. You might be sleeping with a ghost.”

She turned, walked toward the stairs, tumingin pa kay Damon nang may halong awa at yabang.

“Where is my room? Saan ako pwedeng magpahinga, napagod ako.” And smirked. Hindi hinintay ang sagot namin deretso sa taas sa may Guest Room.

And I stood there.

Frozen.

Furious.

Humiliated.

Hinila ko ang sarili ko paalis, pero Damon grabbed my arm.

“Skyra—”

“Don’t touch me.”

“She’s playing—”

“I don’t give a damn about her game!” sigaw ko. “I care about you just standing there!”

He flinched. “I didn’t—”

“You let her!” I shouted. “You let her talk about your past while I was standing there like some… goddamn trainee in this f*****g war of yours!”

My chest was heaving. I couldn’t stop the fire now.

“You should’ve stopped her, Damon. You should’ve said something. Defended me. Defended us.”

His eyes blazed. “There is no ‘us’—if you don’t f*****g trust me.”

“And what do you expect?” I hissed. “When your ex walks in and undresses you with her eyes and you just—stand. There.”

Silence.

Heavy. Burning.

Until—

Damon stepped forward.

Grabbed my waist.

And slammed his mouth onto mine.

No hesitation. No gentleness.

Just rage.

Just possession.

Just f*****g war.

Dahil sa halik niyang ‘yon, natanggal lahat ng natitirang control sa katawan ko.

Walang salita. Walang pagdududa.

Puro galit. Puro apoy.

Damon’s lips were brutal. Crashing into mine like a f*****g storm. Hinila niya ako papalapit, braso niya'y mahigpit sa baywang ko habang tinutulak ako patalikod—pabalik sa kwarto.

“Anong gusto mong maramdaman, Skyra?” bulong niya sa labi ko. “Na ikaw lang ang gusto ko?”

“I don’t want your words,” sabi ko, hingal. “I want proof.”

That was all he needed.

Bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto. Pagsarado niya nito, he slammed me against the wall. Hindi ako nasaktan—pero ramdam ko ang init ng katawan niya, ang tensyon sa dibdib niya, at ang ari niyang naninigas sa pagitan naming dalawa.

Hinawakan niya ang leeg ko, hinimas gamit ang hinlalaki niya ang ilalim ng panga ko.

“You’re mine,” he growled. “You think that b***h means anything to me? Watch how I erase her from your f*****g mind.”

Hinila niya pataas ang suot kong oversized tshirt nya—at pinunit pababa ang lace underwear ko. Napunit iyon sa isang hagot. Naramdaman ko ang init ng hangin sa pagitan ng hita ko, sabay pasok ng daliri niya sa gitna ko.

Basang-basa ako. Galit. Gusto. Gutom.

“Dito ka lang basa para sa’kin,” bulong niya, sinisipsip ang leeg ko habang nilalaro ng dalawang daliri ang loob ko. “Hindi para sa kanya. Hindi para kahit kanino.”

“Then f**k me,” I hissed. “And don’t hold back.”

He growled low in his throat. Then he turned me—face flat against the wall, arms spread, legs trembling.

Hinila niya ang pantalon niya pababa. His c**k sprang free — swollen, angry, throbbing.

I felt the tip slide against my entrance.

Then—

“PLOK!”

He slammed in.

Isa. Buo. Malalim.

“D-Damon—!” napasigaw ako, kuko ko’y kumapit sa pader habang binabayo niya ako mula sa likod.

His grip on my hips was bruising. His thrusts — violent, punishing, claiming.

“Say it,” growl niya sa tenga ko, habang sagad ang baon ng bawat ulos. “Sabihin mo kung sino ang gusto mong sumira sa’yo ng ganito.”

“You—ahhh… ikaw lang, Damon… ikaw lang…”

PLOK. PLOK. PLOK.

The sound of skin slapping. Wet. Unrelenting.

He reached forward and grabbed a fistful of my hair, sabay hila pataas sa’kin. My back arched. My n*****s grazed the cold wall.

“You jealous, Skyra?” bulong niya sa tenga ko, habang walang humpay ang pagkantot niya. “You should be.”

Hinagod niya ang tinggil ko habang binabayo ako. Sabay-sabay ang sarap—mula sa loob, sa clit, sa leeg kong pinupuno niya ng halik.

Then—

“AHHHHH—!”

Nilabasan ako. Tumulo ang katas ko pababa sa hita ko at sa mga itlog niya.

Pero hindi pa siya tapos.

He turned me around, binuhat ako at inihagis sa kama. My legs spread wide. My body shaking.

“Now I’m going to f**k you while looking in your eyes,” he growled.

He climbed on top. Lined up.

Then slammed back in.

I screamed. He silenced it with his mouth. His tongue forced its way in — aggressive, needy, furious.

This was no longer s*x.

It was war.

It was a fight for ownership.

It was a declaration.

He rammed into me again and again, ang kama’y gumagalaw, ang ulos niya’y sagad sa sinapupunan ko. I clawed at his back. He bit my collarbone.

“You’re mine,” ulit niya. “And I’m never letting you forget it.”

“Then make me remember,” bulong ko.

He grinned like a beast.

Then came harder.

And deeper.

Hanggang sa sabay kaming napasigaw — kasabay ng sabay naming pagputok.

I felt him fill me again. Hot. Heavy. Possessive.

And I knew, right then…

Isabella was never a threat.

Because whatever Damon and I had?

It wasn’t just s*x.

It was fire.

It was chaos.

And it was ours.

Kinabukasan.

Hindi ako agad nagising sa yakap ni Damon — mainit ang dibdib niya, mabigat ang braso niyang nakapatong sa baywang ko. Pero kahit anong init pa ng katawan niya, may malamig na bagay na bumalot sa akin pagkadilat ng mga mata ko.

Isang tanong na pabalik balik sa isip ko:

Bakit hindi niya itinaboy si Isabella?

Tumayo ako nang dahan-dahan. Hubo’t hubad. Lumakad ako sa loob ng villa, bitbit ang bedsheet na nakabalot sa katawan ko. Tahimik. Walang tao. Pero may bakas ng kagabi — amoy pawis, s*x, at silakbo.

Pagdating ko sa mini-office desk sa sulok ng villa, napansin ko ang isang bag — hindi akin, hindi kay Damon.

Red leather clutch. Branded. Mahal.

Alam kong kay Isabella ito.

Na-curious ako. At hindi ako nagdalawang-isip.

Binuksan ko ang zipper.

Laptop.

Secure phone.

At isang flash drive na may logo: Gallardo Biotech.

Tumigil ang mundo ko.

Gallardo.

Senator Gallardo — ang corrupt na pulitikong dati naming tinanggihan ng investment sa Monteverde Holdings. At... ang pangalan na konektado sa isa sa mga classified file na pinakita sa’kin ni Damon kahapon.

Pinagpapawisan na ang palad ko. Sinaksak ko ang flash drive sa tablet ni Damon, gamit ang guest profile. Encrypted. Pero hindi kasing lalim ng mga files na kadalasang hawak ko.

In just a few bypass codes, the folder opened.

EMPLOYEE ARCHIVES - GALLARDO FOUNDATION

And there it was.

Isabella Cruz.

Project Coordinator — Special Liaison to Elian Monteverde.

My blood ran cold.

Putang ina.

She didn’t just work for Gallardo... she worked for my brother.

Napaatras ako mula sa desk. Nanghihina ang tuhod ko. Hawak ko pa rin ang tablet habang tumitigil ang t***k ng puso ko.

This wasn’t an ex walking into my life.

This was a f*****g planted operative.

“Skyra?”

Lumingon ako.

Si Isabella. Nakasuot ng white silk robe. Gising na rin. At nakangiti—isang ngiting hindi ko maipinta kung inosente o demonyo.

“Oh,” she said sweetly, nakatingin sa hawak kong tablet. “Found something interesting?”

Hindi ako sumagot.

I stood tall. Inangat ang tablet, ipinakita ang pangalan niya sa screen.

“You were working for Elian.”

Blunt. Walang paliguy-ligoy.

Isabella didn’t flinch. She just smiled wider.

“Took you long enough.”

Boom.

Isang sampal ang dumapo sa pisngi niya — malutong, malakas, walang alinlangan.

PLAK!

Umangat ang mukha niya sa impact, pero hindi nawala ang ngiti niya. Mas lalong lumalim.

“I see he didn’t tell you everything,” she whispered, eyes glinting with wicked glee. “Typical Damon.”

“Stay the f**k away from me,” bulong ko, nanginginig ang boses ko. “Stay the hell away from him.”

But inside me?

A war was brewing.

Because now… everything was personal.

“Ang kapal ng mukha mo,” bulong ko, halos hindi ko makontrol ang galit sa dibdib ko.

Nasa hallway na kami ng villa, face-to-face, walang ibang tao — just me, and the woman who played me for a fool.

“You pretended to be his ex,” I said, voice rising. “But you’re not just that, are you?”

“I never said I wasn’t,” sabay baling ng buhok niya sa balikat. Calm. Calculated. Evil in white silk. “I was his fiancée once. But I was also your brother’s employee. Small world, huh?”

Nagdidilim na ang paningin ko.

“You manipulated both of them.”

“I was doing my job,” she shrugged. “I was planted to get close to Damon, gain intel, and control the narrative around your disappearance. Your brother was very clear—he wanted the world to think you were dead, and Damon was unstable.”

“Putang—”

I stepped forward. She didn’t move.

“You were gonna let me believe you were just a jealous ex? Let me spiral while you watched me from across the room, like some f*****g queen?”

“It was fun,” she said coldly. “Watching you squirm.”

Then, she smiled again.

“But you already lost the game, Skyra. Because the moment you felt something for him—”

PLAK! Sinampal ko ulit sya.

Hindi ko na kinaya.

My palm landed across her cheek so hard, her head jerked sideways. Her lip split slightly from the force.

Nanatiling matahimik ang hallway. Hangin lang ng aircon at t***k ng puso ko ang naririnig ko. Nanginginig ako sa galit, pero ang kamay ko — matatag.

“Don’t you ever say his name again,” I growled. “And if you think I’m done fighting… you’re more delusional than I thought.”

Isabella looked back at me slowly. Blood on her lip. But her eyes… sparkled.

“Now that,” she whispered, “was fun.”

Then she turned, walking away like nothing happened.

Bitch.

I stood there, breathing hard, my hand still stinging.

She wanted to break me.

But she forgot something.

I don’t break.

I burn.

Tahimik. Mabigat. Ramdam ko ang bawat hakbang niyang papalapit. Hanggang sa halos magdikit na kami.

“She was taunting you. Pushing you to the edge.”

“She crossed it.”

Nagkatitigan kami — no words, just fire. Wala nang boundary. Wala nang rules.

Galit. Sakit. Lust.

And something darker.

Biglang hinawakan ni Damon ang batok ko at siniil ako ng halik. Madiin. Galit. Wild.

Our teeth clashed. Tongues battled. My back hit the wall hard, but I didn’t care.

I wanted it.

I wanted him.

Hinila nya ang bedsheet na nakabalabal sa katawan ko, exposing my breasts. Sinunggaban niya agad ang isa, sinupsop ng madiin, habang ang isang kamay ay lumalamas sa kabilang u***g ko. Walang yigil ito sa pagsupsop na parang gutom na gutom.

“God, Skyra—you're mine,” growl niya, habang patuloy ang halik at sipsip. “No one touches you. No one gets to break you.”

“I belong to no one,” bulong ko, pero sabay kagat sa labi niya, “except when I want to.”

He gripped my jaw, hard. “Then want me now.”

I pulled his belt open. Hinila ang pantalon niya pababa. Tumambad ang matigas na ari niya — angry, leaking, ready.

“f**k me like you mean it,” bulong ko.

Damon grabbed my thighs, lifted me, pinatong sa dresser. Tinulak ang panty ko sa gilid at tinutok ang ari niya.

“No mercy.”

Isang ulos.

PLOK!

Napasinghap ako sa sakit at sarap nang buong-buo niyang ipinasok sa akin.

“Damon!”

“Too deep?” bulong niya, habang nakatitig sa mata ko.

“Too perfect.”

He started thrusting.

PLOK. PLOK. PLOK.

Rough. Raw. Relentless.

Hinawakan niya ang buhok ko habang kinakantot ako ng sagad. He leaned down, biting my neck, then whispering:

“She wants to break you. I want to own you.”

“I don’t care,” bulong ko, pawis na ang balat, “just don’t stop.”

Sinubsob niya ang mukha niya sa pagitan ng dibdib ko, habang ang isa niyang kamay ay marahas na minasahe ang tinggil ko.

“Ahhh… Damon… f*ck!”

“Say it,” bulong niya. “Say you’re mine.”

“I’m yours. You know I f*cking am!”

He slammed into me even harder. Furniture creaking. Skin slapping. Walls shaking.

We were animals.

His hand went to my throat — not choking, just claiming. Dominating.

“You come when I say.”

“Then f*cking say it!”

His eyes darkened.

“Now.”

I shattered.

My entire body convulsed, habang ang loob ko'y humigpit sa b***t niya. Napasigaw ako sa sarap, habang si Damon ay umungol, at nilabasan sa loob ko, malalim, madami.

He didn’t pull out.

Instead, he leaned in, forehead against mine.

Breathing hard.

“I don’t care who tries to take you,” he growled. “I’ll destroy them.”

And I whispered against his lips—

“Then start with her.”

My body was still trembling from the first climax.

But Damon didn’t let go.

Instead, he kissed me again—slower this time. Deep, unhurried, his lips memorizing mine like a man worshipping his religion. His hand stroked my cheek, the same hand that once held a gun, now cradling me as if I were the most fragile thing in his world.

“Skyra,” he whispered against my lips, voice hoarse. “You don’t know what you do to me.”

“Then show me,” bulong ko, “all of it.”

He scooped me up in his arms—naked, flushed, covered in sweat and his seed—and carried me toward the massive bed draped in deep gray silk. I buried my face in his neck, inhaling his scent. Lust. Danger. Love.

He gently laid me down, but his eyes were dark. Hungry. Possessive.

He climbed over me slowly, like a predator savoring every second.

And kissed me again.

From my lips.

To my jaw.

To my throat.

Down my chest.

Sinalsal niya ng dila ang magkabilang u***g ko—wet and wild—habang gumagapang pababa ang halik niya sa tiyan ko, sa puson… hanggang sa huminto siya sa pagitan ng hita ko.

His eyes met mine.

"You’re still so f*****g wet,” he growled.

I spread my legs wider. “Then don’t waste it.”

And he didn’t.

Sinibasib niya ulit ang kaselanan ko, mas marahas kaysa kanina. Dinilaan niya ang labi ng kaselanan ko, sinipsip ang clit, pinatigas ang dila at pinasok nang marahan.

I cried out, clutching the sheets. “D-Damon—oh god…”

He licked in circles, then zigzagged, flicked the tip of his tongue until my legs trembled uncontrollably. Two fingers pushed inside me—then three—stretching, curling, thrusting.

PLOK. PLOK. SLURPP.

I couldn’t hold it anymore.

I screamed his name as I came again, this time shaking so violently I thought I’d black out. My juices flowed all over his hand, all over the sheets.

But he didn’t stop.

He pulled back, wiped his mouth, then kissed me again—so tender, so passionate.

“Now ride me,” he growled. “I want to watch you lose control.”

Damon lay on his back, c**k painfully hard, glistening with precum. I climbed over him, straddling his hips, then guided him into me—inch by inch.

We both moaned at the contact.

"Fck, Skyra…" His eyes fluttered. “You feel like fcking heaven.”

I began to move. Mabagal sa simula. Paikot. Tapos taas-baba. He gripped my hips, guiding me as I rode him hard.

Every bounce. Every slide. Every grind.

PLOK. PLOK. PLOK.

Damon's hands found my breasts, kneading them as he stared up at me like I was something sacred. My hair was wild. My body glistening.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered. “So f*cking mine.”

I leaned down, kissed him deep, our tongues dancing as I kept grinding on him.

But then—

He flipped me.

Now I was on my hands and knees.

And Damon shoved into me from behind with a deep, brutal thrust.

I gasped. “f**k!”

His hands gripped my hips, slamming into me again and again. One hand reached around and rubbed my clit as he pounded from behind.

“Tell me,” he growled. “Tell me who owns this pussy.”

“You do,” I cried. “Only you, Damon—please—don’t stop!”

He leaned forward, lips brushing my ear.

“You’re mine, Skyra. Mind, body, f*cking soul.”

Then—another shift.

He pulled out, spun me on my back, and hooked my legs over his shoulders. He slammed back in with so much depth that I screamed his name, eyes rolling back.

He kissed me.

Every thrust now was desperate. Emotional. Raw.

“Damon…” I whispered, holding his face. “Don’t ever stop loving me.”

He froze.

Then whispered—

“Never.”

And he made love to me.

Slow now. Deep. Gentle. His thumb stroked my cheek as he moved inside me. Kisses were everywhere—forehead, nose, lips, neck.

I wrapped my arms around him and cried softly—not from pain. But from how full I felt.

Of him.

Of everything.

And when we both came, it was soul-shattering.

He released inside me with a soft groan, face buried in my neck.

I shook in his arms, whispering his name over and over like a prayer.

Our bodies tangled. Damp. Exhausted. Glowing.

But unknown to both of us—

A shadow stood quietly behind the cracked door.

Isabella.

Eyes sharp. Fists clenched. Chest rising.

And in her gaze—jealousy.

Obsession.

And something dangerous.