The First Dance

Elara’s POV

The low hum of music filled the club, softer tonight, as if the world itself decided to slow down. Hindi ko alam kung paano ako napapayag na pumunta rito ulit—pero nandito na ako, nakatayo sa gilid habang pinapanood si Damian makipag-usap sa ilang tauhan niya.

He looked… untouchable. Tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a perfectly tailored black suit na parang ginawa lang para sa kanya. His presence dominated the entire room, kahit hindi siya nagsasalita.

“Lost?” bumungad ang malalim niyang boses nang mapansin niyang nakatingin ako. May bahagyang kurba ang labi niya, pero hindi iyon ngiti—parang warning. Parang panlilinlang.

“I’m fine.” I muttered, quickly looking away. Pero kahit anong gawin ko, ramdam ko ang bigat ng mga mata niya sa akin.

And then, the music changed. From a steady beat, naging isang slow, haunting melody. Para bang sinadya. Para bang siya mismo ang may utos.

Damian walked towards me, his steps deliberate. Bawat hakbang niya ay parang pumapalo sa dibdib ko, pinapaalala kung gaano ka-dangerous ang lahat ng ito. Nang huminto siya sa harap ko, hindi na ako makahinga.

“Dance with me.” he said. Hindi utos, hindi tanong. It was both.

“Here? Now?” Napalingon ako sa paligid—his men, the dim lights, the entire atmosphere na parang hindi bagay sa isang simpleng sayaw.

“Yes. Here. Now.” His hand extended, palm open, waiting.

Alam kong dapat kong tanggihan. Alam kong mali. Pero bago pa ako makapag-isip ng dahilan, my hand was already in his. Mainit ang palad niya, mahigpit ang kapit—hindi nakakakulong, pero malinaw na hindi niya ako bibitawan.

He pulled me closer. Too close. My chest brushed against his, and I swear my knees almost gave in. His scent—smoke, leather, danger—wrapped around me like a cage I secretly didn’t want to escape.

“Relax,” he murmured, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. “I won’t bite… unless you ask me to.”

My heart lurched. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re trembling.” His voice was low, smug, but also strangely gentle. “Why?”

Because you scare me. Because you fascinate me. Because I know I’m falling even though I promised myself I wouldn’t.

Pero hindi ko sinabi. Instead, I whispered, “Maybe it’s the music.”

He chuckled, deep and dark, his chest vibrating against mine. “Liar.”

His hand slid down my back, stopping just above my waist. My body betrayed me, leaning into him as the world blurred away. The music swelled, and suddenly, it wasn’t just a dance. It was something more—something dangerous.

When his forehead touched mine, I forgot how to breathe.

“Elara.” he whispered, my name rolling off his tongue like a vow. Or maybe a curse.

My lips parted, my pulse racing uncontrollably. For one fleeting second, I wondered if he’d kiss me. If I’d let him.

And then—

“Damian!” A voice broke the spell, one of his men rushing toward him.

Damian stiffened, ang kamay niya hindi kumalas sa akin. His eyes darkened, shifting from intimate to lethal in a heartbeat.

“Later,” he promised, his gaze burning into mine before turning to face the intruder.

And just like that, the moment shattered.

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Damian’s POV

I never should’ve asked her to dance.

Pero mula nang pumasok si Elara sa club ngayong gabi, wala akong ibang ginawa kundi bantayan siya. Every glance, every nervous flicker of her eyes, every stubborn tilt of her chin—it was driving me insane.

So when the music changed, I took it as a sign. A chance.

The second her hand slipped into mine, something snapped inside me. Ang lambot ng balat niya, ang init ng palad niya—ibang klase ang epekto. I’ve touched a thousand women before, pero wala pa ni isa ang nakapagpatibok ng puso ko ng ganito. Wala pa ni isa ang nakapagpayanig ng mundo ko.

Pulling her close was selfish. Hell, lahat ng ito was selfish. Pero nang maramdaman ko siyang nakasandal sa akin, nang makita ko ang takot at sabay na pananabik sa mga mata niya… I knew I was already ruined.

Her scent—sweet, delicate, untouched—clashed with the darkness in me. I shouldn’t want her. She doesn’t belong in my world. And yet… I wanted nothing more than to keep her here, caged in my arms.

When I teased her, when I whispered against her ear, I wasn’t just playing. I was testing her. Gusto kong makita kung hanggang saan siya tatagal. Kung tatakbo siya… o mananatili.

But she didn’t run. She trembled, yes. But she stayed.

And for the first time in years, I almost kissed someone not out of lust, not out of control—pero dahil kailangan ko. Dahil siya ang kailangan ko.

“Elara.” I whispered, and the way she looked at me back—God, it undid me.

Then the interruption came. A soldier rushing in, breaking the moment I wasn’t ready to let go of. I wanted to kill him then and there for ruining it.

Pero hindi ko ginawa. I tightened my hold on her instead, refusing to let the moment die completely.

“Later.” I promised her.

Because I meant it.

There will be a later.

Because I don’t care what it takes—Elara Cruz is mine.

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