5. The First Taste of Sin

“Didn’t anyone teach you how to follow instructions?” 

Natuyo ang lalamunan ko. “Sino iyong sumigaw kanina? Anong nangyari?”

His jaw clenched. “Leave.”

“Someone sounded hurt.”

“I said leave,” diin niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko. I had never seen this serious side of him. Parang sinasaksak ako ng mga mata niya sa sama ng tingin.

I swallowed hard before looking away. 

Napako ang tingin ko sa desk.

May papel doon. Nakaipit sa ilalim ng crystal paperweight. Hindi ko sana papansinin kung hindi ko nakita ang isang pangalan na parang biglang sumuntok sa dibdib ko.

Carmelle Lopez.

Nanlamig ang mga daliri ko.

Bago pa ako makalapit, gumalaw si Enzo.

One second, nasa gilid siya ng fireplace. The next, nasa harap na siya ng desk. His broad body blocked my view, shoulders tense, one hand gripping the edge like he was stopping himself from doing something worse.

Fear crawled violently up my spine.

My lips parted. “What is that?” 

His eyes locked onto mine. Parang may gustong iparating ang madilim niyang mga titig na hindi ko naman mabasa kung ano.

“You shouldn’t trust my father.”

My heartbeat stumbled. “Ano?”

He stared at me for a long second before laughing softly. But there was nothing amused about the sound.

“You really think your mother came here because of love?”

My chest tightened painfully. “What are you talking about?”

Another silence stretched between us until he suddenly walked toward me.

Paghinto niya sa harap ko, halos magkadikit na ang mga hita ko, dama ang init na namumuo sa pagitan nito.

He was so close, enough for me to smell whiskey and smoke on his skin. Close enough for me to remember the dream.

Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na natikman ko siya sa panaginip ko.

“Go back to your room, Amara,” he murmured softly.

“No.”

Something flickered in his eyes.

“You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“Then tell me.” I crossed my arms.

“You don’t listen.” His jaw tightened. “You think this place is safe?” he asked quietly. “You think my father brings people here out of kindness?”

Nanikip ang dibdib ko. Gulong-gulo na ’ko sa nararamdaman. 

“Hindi kita maintindihan,” I whispered.

Bumaba ang tingin niya sa bandang dibdib ko. I gulped and remembered na kitang-kita nga pala ang clea*vage ko sa suot ko, and he was standing too close right in front of me.

Umigting ang panga niya. 

His hand suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me against him. 

I gasped softly as my chest collided against his. Sumabog ang init sa pagkababae ko. Shit. Basang-basa na ang pa*nty ko. 

“You’re stubborn, Amara,” he said roughly. “And your eyes… you should stop looking at me like that.”

Nangatog ang binti ko habang dinadama ang malaki niyang kamay na nakahawak sa akin. Maski ang titig niya, parang tinutunaw ako sa lalim.

“I don’t… I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I gulped.

“Of course you do.” He brushed his hand softly against my cheek.

My breathing turned uneven when his fingers slowly slid lower along my arm. Every inch of skin he touched felt too warm.

“You should be scared of me,” he murmured.

“I’m not.”

His gray eyes darkened.

At parang may biglang napigtas sa loob niya. Hinawakan niya ang pisnge ko at dumampi agad ang mainit niyang labi sa akin. 

Kumapit ang mga daliri ko sa damit niya. Parang huminto sandali ang buong mundo nang sabayan ko ang galaw ng bibig niya.

Napaatras ako nang hindi kumakalas sa halik hanggang tumama ang likod ko sa gilid ng desk.

Napasinghap ako.

Oh Goodness. Sobrang lambot, init, at sarap ng lips niya. Pilit kong hinahabol ang paghinga ko sa pagitan ng uhaw naming mga halik. 

Kusang bumuka ang bibig ko nang maramdaman ang dila niya. 

Kinuryente and tiyan ko nang magtagpo ang mga dila namin, exactly like in my dream, only this felt hotter. Mas nakakawala ng matinong pag-iisip.

A soft sound escaped my throat nang lalo niyang idiniin ang mga halik niya. 

Parang unti-unti niyang binubura lahat ng dapat kong maalala; na stepbrother ko siya, na mali ’to, na dapat akong umatras.

Mariing sumiksik ang mga daliri niya sa buhok ko, deepening our kiss even more. Lalong pang dumiin ang kapit ng isa kamay niya sa bewang ko.

Napasinghap ako laban sa labi niya.

The pressure of his grip sent heat rushing through my whole body, making my knees weaken. 

Grabe na ang init na dumaloy sa pagitan ng mga hita ko.

The soft whimper that escaped me only made his breathing heavier.

“Fuck,” he muttered against my mouth.

My hands grabbed his hair habang lalong umiinit ang buong katawan ko.

Every kiss felt wrong. But somehow, that only made it harder to stop. 

Dumulas ang kamay ko sa ilalim ng shirt niya, tracing the hard lines of his abs habang lalo akong nilalamon ng init ng katawan niya.

Mabagal na dumaan ang malalambot niyang labi sa jaw ko pababa sa leeg ko, each kiss lingering just enough to make my skin heat up beneath him.

Napasinghap ako nang dumampi ang labi niya sa sa ilalim ng tenga ko.

A shiver ran through my whole body.

“Enzo…” Nanginginig ang boses ko.

He cursed softly under his breath, like hearing his name from me did something violent to him.

Then suddenly—he pulled away. 

Mabigat pa rin ang paghinga niya habang nakatitig ang gray eyes niya diretso sa mga mata ko, burning so intensely na parang may kung anong gustong sirain sa loob ko.

Pareho kaming hindi nakagalaw at nagpalitan lang ng malalim na paghinga.

“You need to leave this room,” he suddenly said.

Kumunot ang noo ko. “W-why?” 

His gaze flickered toward a wall, then back to me.

“Because if you don’t leave right now,” he said roughly, eyes dropping to my body, “I’m going to pin you against that wall and ruin every good intention I have left.”