2. Temptation Has a Name

Enzo

That same man na bahagyang nakangisi habang nakatitig sa akin kanina noong nakikipag-se*x siya sa iba.

My stomach twisted habang bumalik sa isip ko ang tunog ng kamay niyang humahampas sa balat ng babae. The low groan that came from his throat. The way his hips moved faster behind her habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa akin.

At ang mas nakakainis? Nararamdaman ko pa rin ang init sa pagitan ng mga hita ko.

His fingers tightened slightly around my wrist.

“You should watch your step,” he said quietly and casually.

Na parang hindi kami nagkatitigan habang may iba siyang kina*kan*tot less than thirty minutes ago.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. “I’m fine.”

I tried to pull my wrist back.

Hindi siya bumitaw. His thumb rested against my pulse. 

I hated the way my skin started heating up under his touch. The way one simple movement from him could make my stomach tighten and my breathing turn uneven.

“Let go,” I said quietly.

Dumulas ang tingin niya sa labi ko bago dahan-dahang bumalik sa mga mata ko.

“Not even a thank you?”

“Thank you,” I said, sharper this time. “Now let go.”

Tumaas ang kilay niya, before he released me slowly, like he wanted me to feel every second of his touch. 

My mother hurried toward me. “Anak, okay ka lang?”

“Okay lang, Ma,” I said, stepping back.

But I was not fine. Because my pulse was still racing.

The stranger bent down, picked up my bag, and handed it to me.

Maingat ko iyong kinuha, pero dumampi pa rin ang mga daliri niya sa kamay ko. May kung anong init na biglang kumalat sa loob ko.

Tumalikod muna ‘ko para tignan si Mama. Actually, para may dahilan lang akong umiwas sa malagkit niyang tingin. 

My mother, thankfully, had been distracted by another staff member asking about our luggage.

“Sino k—” I pressed my lips together nang makita ko siyang naglalakad na palayo sa yacht.

I rolled my eyes and walked toward my mother, forcing myself not to look back. But before I could stop myself, I did.

I swallowed hard nang makitang nakasandal siya sa isang ATV at nakatitig sa akin. The sun hit his face, turning his gray eyes almost silver.

Fuck. I was really curious.

Tinignan ko si Mama na abala pa rin sa staff.

She seemed busy kaya naglakad na ako palapit sa misteryosong lalake.

“Hey, sino ka ba at bakit titig ka nang titig sa ‘kin?” Nilakasan ko ang loob ko.

I wanted to look confident. Ayokong ipakita sa iba ang kahinaan ko dahil wala akong ibang napala roon kundi ma-bully at tapak-tapakan lang.

He smiled then. “Well, I could ask the same thing about you.”

Uminit lalo ang dugo ko. Parang natuyo ang lalamunan ko at hindi agad nakapagsalita.

Natulala lang ako.

Mas makinang pa pala ang mga mata niya sa malapitan. His pinkish lips looked like his greatest asset, pero napalunok ako nang mapansin ko ang dimples niya.

“It’s your first time at La Isla Tentación, Amara. And yet here you are, already looking at me like temptation. That’s going to be a problem for both of us.”

Napaawang ang labi ko.

How did he know my name?

Gusto ko siyang hampasin, mabuti na lang at napigilan ko ang sarili ko. Napakayabang at assumero.

Hindi na ’ko nakapagsalita sa gigil.

Tumalikod na siya at sumakay sa ATV. He looked at me with a smirk one last time saka nag-drive toward a private path lined with black roses and guarded by a tall iron gate.

Ilang minuto ang lumipas, naglakad na kami ni Mama papalapit sa mansion. Pagpasok namin sa loob, halos malaglag ang panga ko.

The entrance hall looked massive. White marble floors reflected the crystal chandeliers hanging above us while a grand staircase curved elegantly toward the second floor.

Then I noticed dozens of portraits.

Men and women dressed in old-money elegance, all staring down from gold frames like they were silently judging every person entering the house.

My chest tightened.

“This way, ma’am,” one of the staff members said politely.

Habang sumusunod kami, napansin kong may mga camera pala sa bawat sulok ng hallway.

“Mama…” mahina kong tawag.

“Hm?”

“Bakit ang daming cameras dito?”

Bago pa siya makasagot, another voice answered behind us.

“Security.”

Napalingon ako.

A girl around my age, maybe twenty-one, stood near the staircase, lazily leaning against the railing habang may hawak na wine glass.

She was beautiful in an effortless way. Dark wavy hair. Sharp eyes. A silk dress hanging loosely on her body like she didn’t care enough to impress anyone.

She smiled at me and started walking down the stairs.

She held out her hand. “Eliana Montemayor.”

I forced a polite smile before shaking her hand. “Amara Reyes.”

“Cute.” Bahagya siyang ngumisi. “You already look stressed. That usually takes people at least three days here.”

“Eli.” A woman with gray hair pulled into a severe bun suddenly appeared, walking so comfortably na parang matagal na siyang nakatira rito.

“What?” Eli shrugged innocently. “I’m just welcoming her.”

The older woman gave a small nod before looking directly at my mother.

“Ms. Lopez,” she greeted formally. “Welcome to Lust Estate.”

Mama smiled politely. “Thank you.”

Then Doña Pilar’s eyes shifted toward me.

I suddenly became aware of everything. My cheap sandals compared to the marble staircase. The crease on my dress from sitting too long on the yacht.

“Ms. Reyes,” Doña Pilar finally said.

Her tone remained polite, pero may kung anong malamig sa ilalim nito.

“Your rooms have already been prepared.”

I wanted to smile, but I stopped myself. Parang hindi ko ma-imagine na magkakaroon ako ng sariling kwarto inside a mansion this huge.

“Thank you po,” sagot ko agad.

Her eyes lingered on me one second longer before looking at Mama.

“Mr. Montemayor is waiting for you in his office,” she said.

Nginitian ako ni Mama bago siya sumunod kay Doña Pilar.

Nang maiwan akong mag-isa, nilibot ko muna ang Lust Estate.

I was trying to appreciate how expensive everything looked here. Parang iyong mga mansions lang sa N*****x series na pinapanood namin ng best friend kong si Selene habang kumakain ng instant noodles.

Pero iba pala kapag nasa harap mo na.

Napalingon ako sa napakalaking portrait sa taas ng staircase.

A beautiful, elegant woman. But there was something haunting about her eyes. Parang malungkot siya kahit nakangiti.

“Valentina Montemayor.”

Napalingon agad ako sa nagsalita.

My eyes widened.

Napatingala ako sa tangkad ng lalake, the mysterious man. Parang mabibilaukan ako sa sarili kong laway. Ba’t ba pasulpot-sulpot siya kung saan-saan?

Nakatingin lang siya sa portrait. Pero hindi pa rin maalis ang hubad na imahe niya sa utak ko.

“What the— sinusundan mo ba ‘ko?” Kumunot ang noo ko habang mabilis na umiwas ang tingin ko sa kanya.

I could still imagine the way he kept looking at me while moving inside that girl.

Uminit ang buong mukha ko.

“No,” he said calmly. “You’re standing in my house.”

Napaawang ang labi ko.

Before I could answer, isang maid ang nagmamadaling lumapit sa kanya.

“Sir, the west wing—”

Enzo cut her off with one look.

Not even a word.

The maid immediately lowered her head.

“Later,” he said quietly.

My brows furrowed. “You own this house? Does that mean… daddy mo si Marcelo?”

He shrugged. “I’m Enzo.”

Napakurap-kurap ako. “So you’re gonna be my—” No way! Hindi ko matanggap. Hindi puwede. I mean, why not? Pero…

“Stepbrother. Correct,” he answered na parang okay lang sa kanya.

“What the fuck?” Bumuga ako sa hangin “Then bakit kung makatitig ka sa ‘kin kanina habang binabay—” Tinikom ko agad ang bibig ko bago ko pa matuloy ang sasabihin.

His gaze stayed locked on mine habang mabagal siyang humakbang palapit until I could smell his mysterious, dark scent again.

My pulse stumbled.

Masyado na siyang malapit ngayon. Close enough para mapansin ko ang bahagyang shadow ng stubble sa jaw niya. Close enough para maalala ko exactly how those lips looked habang pinapakawalan niya ang mabababang ungol kanina.

Fuck.

I swallowed hard.

A slow smile appeared on his face.

“Because,” he said softly, eyes dropping briefly to my mouth again, “you looked at me like you were imagining yourself in her place.”

Napalunok ako.

Heat exploded across my entire body.

“If you wanna taste me too, Amara… you could always ask nicely.”