Mag-log inI bit my lower lip, and paused. “ How many kids do you want?” I asked.
He's a member of the wealthiest family in the country. He can't possibly want more than two.
“ Do you think six will do?”
“ Jesus Christ!” I took a deep breath. “ Not in vain, not in vain.”
He smiled. “ I'm thinking we should have one tonight.”
My mind flew over the roof of my head. I have totally forgotten. The honeymoon!
“ Right now,” he mumbled over my ears, fingers edging towards my thigh.
“ Ahh yes!” I clapped with a gush of inspiration. A perfect excuse. “ You haven't paid my dowry.”
“ Oh! That's true."
"Name your price.”
I cleared my throat. “ Nine million dollars.”
First digits that came to my mind.
“ That's odd,” his forehead wrinkled. “ Your account details, please.”
My smile disappeared. I wasn't expecting him to agree to that.
“ I…uhmm…my adoptive parents should receive it,” I protested, buying time.
His brows furrowed. “ They give you just a name and you practically want to part with such amount and give it to them? You're full of surprises.”
I shrugged. “ I practically don't know what I will do with such a huge sum,” I muttered under my breath.
He shook his head. “ Full of surprises,” he repeated again.
We sank back into silence. Relieved one minute, the next moment, the familiar road to Lisa's house came into view.
He tapped my thigh three times. “ Are you sure you only want nine million? I hate odd numbers.”
I cackled. “ If I asked for one billion more, would you part with such an amount?”
“ Why not? You would then owe me more children.”
My throat went dry.
“ What do you say, Mrs. Devinsky? Shall I make the transfer?”
“ They would block my account if such an amount comes in suddenly,” I interjected.
“ Not if you open another account with your official name.”
“ Are you crazy? I mentioned we should keep it secret,” I slapped his hand off my thigh.
He frowned, without breaking eye contact.“ You don't have a deal, if my own end is unattended.”
“ Fine, we can have it tonight,” my heart fluttered as the words left my lips.
“ Deal, cupcake.”
I tried to put some space between us, stung by a rioting emotion. For every time I inched away, he closed in until our breath mixed.
Once we arrived Lisa's house, I propped to get down, but he held my waist back.
“ No need. The driver has his orders. He will officiate on our behalf. Right now, all you should care about is me,” he said and slid his right hand between my thighs. My knees voluntarily parted. I cursed under my breath but it comes out as a soft moan.
He lifts my skirt, teasing my thighs. My core dampened.
Locked in the swirl of his hands, I grew impatient. Holding back my moan with lips pressed tight.
“ Aaron…”
“ Yes, honey.”
“ I…I…”
“ Say it!”
My lips parted in obedience “ I want you there.”
With a contented smile, he whispered to my ears. “ Guide my hand to where you want me most.”
Without second thoughts, I led his right to my core. The second a contact was made, a subdued cry escaped my lips.
He grunted in satisfaction. Left hand sneaking under my blouse, his right rubbed my core.
“ Aaron…”
“ Who am I to you?”
“ Aaron De—”
“ No baby. Who am I to you?”
My eyes parted, and met the most attentive gaze I have ever received from any man, not to mention a stunningly handsome one.
“ My husband,” I chimed in the heat.
He smiled, and swung my body, and made me straddle him.
I gasped. Not only because of the sudden movement, but because my adoptive parents were approaching with the driver.
“Aaron, we should stop.”
“ Ignore them.”
I was about to protest when his finger slid into my pant and dove in. A muffled scream tore from my lips.
He doesn't go deep but keeps working around my outer body.
Submerged by the feeling, I lowered my head unto his chest. He quickly lifts my chin, unstraps my bra and with my blouse on, he nibbled at my nipples.
Head tossed back, I relished the feeling.
“ I have craved your body ever since I saw you dance in the club.”
Captured by his relentless thrust, I moaned a reply. It spurred him to go faster.
“ Aaron…please…”
My adoptive parents were so close now that I could guess they would be hearing us soon. He didn't stop.
Instead, he lifted me and laid me back on the seat, parted my legs and dove with his tongue.
I gasped, but my hands are locked in his long hair, combing back the strands as he continued.
A sudden tremor accompanied a scream and my body heaved down.
I quickly tried to shut my legs. I could feel the aftermath running down.
He holds my legs apart, head buried between.
I saw my adoptive parents returning to the house and knew they must have heard me.
I covered my face, embarrassed.
He looks up moments later, tongue licking the corners of his lips.
“ What's the matter?” He took off my hands.
“ I think I might have been too loud,” I fussed and motioned to the departing backs of the couple about to enter inside.
“ Oh that,” he frowns. “ Am I not worth a good scream for a job well done?”
I felt my cheeks heat up, my back ache, and my core thickened with longing.
“ Huh? Or do you only care about their feelings and not mine?”
“ Aaron,” I called his name softly, eyes nestled on a large bulge, pushing the length of his fly.
He followed my eyes and cocked a smile. “ Do you want to feel it?”
I turned away, wondering why he didn't penetrate me instead since he's so erect.
My mind nearly dampened with the thought that he might not really find me worthy of him.
But the second he guided my left hand down his fly, those thoughts evaporated.
“ You can't carry me inside you for now. I saw you cry the first two times,” he said, maintaining a flirtatious gaze. “ I need to prepare you for myself.”
I blushed hard and turned away. He lifts my chin and turned my face back to his. “ So don't ever feel like you are not enough.”
“Is he a mind reader?” I thought, brightening up. I felt it breathe against my palm, throbbing with so much warmth that made me want to feel it without the fabric. Lips pressed regrettably, I tried to take my hand off but he held it in place.
Gazing deep into my eyes, he mouthed. “ Do you want to see me?”
“ You don't carry arms into a place like that,” I told Vicky over the phone. “ This is not something I can involve the military in.”“ I understand your point, but she might not be with them. Going in there is like getting entangled with the devil for no good reason. Wait, let us confirm that they have her. For all I know, your girl might be finding her way home now.”I paused for awhile, but the next time I spoke, my tone dropped like ice in my own ears. “ Sister…time is what she may not have.”I got off the phone and turned to Melissa. “ Just before you try to convince me to stay back, bear it in mind it could have been any of you.” I said to her, and the rest of the team gathered in my office. “ She's my wife. If making a deal with the devil is what it's going to take, I will dine with him.”Seconds after I left the building, I felt my pocket for my phone. Empty I reversed, and lumbered inside. Melissa met me downstairs, wearing the widest smile I have ever seen on her.“ She di
Maya came up with an idea. Catch a rabbit and put the jacket on it.And that I did. After long hours, bruised elbow, sprained ankle and a broken nose. I have seen worse.“ I guess that is it. We just have to run in opposite direction of the rabbit.”I nodded in agreement, hoping that the rabbit doesn't come running after us. “ Now that I think of it, you can't be menstruating when you're pregnant. You deceived me.” She complained, wearing a rueful look.“ I'm grateful you didn't realize that back there. Deceiving you was vital towards a convincing act.” I explained, dragging my sprained ankle across the forest floor, while trying to fix my nose. Climbers barricaded most ways, like eternal sentries guarding secret treasures. I broke out a strong stick from a fallen bough, breath about my arm size, making a way deep into the forest, while Maya followed closely behind. “ How did they pull up your grandfather's voice and how are you sure we are not running from the good guys?”I halted
Words, carefully chosen, and one of them was "home". Right outside the door, he could hear me, but nothing stung inside. I felt plain and empty. Lighter, with nothing bearing down on my chest like a sack of grain." Sister Nicki," Maya called again. This time, like she could not recognize me. I turned my attention at her with a slank stare. She looked muted by the intensity of my gaze. " Go home and pack. I'm taking you with me." I spoke casually, straightening up to leave."I don't want to go with you." She protested, firm on the decision with an unyielding gaze. It came with a hum in my ears, striking past archives to open a closed chapter of our memories. I don't trust her enough to leave her with Aaron in the house. Not in the current state. " This is not up for a debate,” I insisted, about two feet away from the door. “ I said so as your guardian. Let's go..."" If this is how you intend to leave the Devinsky family. I do no concur. You both are hurting. Do you not see that wha
It felt tasteless on my tongue when I said it the first time. His eyes shifted, flickering like a faulty bulb. The way his eyes narrowed, lips pressed tight, reinforced my decision. This is not something I would want to hear. “ No. Keep it to yourself.” I said, and took up the spoon. The broth reached my tongue with a sting. “ Urhh! This has vinegar.”“ I did mention that it is bitter.” He droned, with his gaze fixed on me. I felt like coughing it out, but that would bring him closer…he might say something. Something that would eventually break what is left of me. So, I took it. Slowly at first. When I couldn't bear the intensity of his gaze, I downed the whole broth, face contorted from the bitter sting. “ Thank you,” I whispered, dropping the plate. “ Do excuse me. I would like to get some fresh air in Mr. Li's garden.”I got up to leave and seconds later, his hands were firmly wrapped around my waist.“ I'm sorry, Nicki—”“ No, Aaron. I don't want to hear it. Please –”“ Out of m
I received the report with mixed feelings. Everything blurs for a moment. The words echoing in my ears were “ critical condition.”Of all news to come by on a day like this, it had to be this. I shut my ears against the echo of my own voice reading the test results. But it keeps coming…amplifying…getting tense. “ So, even destiny can't watch me keep it.” I chuckled dryly, voice devoid of mirth. “ It can be treated. You will be on medication. You both will make it.”“ Will make it?” I snapped at him. “ Are you interested in watching us make it? Weren't you up for it to leave? You know for months, I thrived in the dream that you really wanted a baby and just when—”“ Could you stop with all of these insinuations and assumptions? When have I not wanted a child? When?”“ I came in here, after the butler told me you have been waiting. I see you, crestfallen with a hollowed out voice. Of course the first thing that came to my mind is that our baby is gone. How could you assume that I didn'
I kept thinking of Melissa on the drive home. The birthmark. Her Vicky- like persistence. The kind that pushes you into areas you have sworn never to wander. But she died. My little sister died. Years when I woke up in the middle of the night, with her name on my lips returned like a flood, engulfing my mind. I steer away from the road and parked the car. “ How did you survive, Melissa?” “ Or, shall I ask, who faked your death?”It was clearing up in my eyes. Something was definitely wrong. I lowered my head on the steering wheel, brooding over the last eighteen years. Her birthday was the same day I met Nicki for the first time. I remembered her. I always do. And everytime, I always give out something dear to me to satisfy the longing of sending gifts to her on her birthday.The second time Nicki and I met, I had nothing close to give besides the Rolex. Thinking about the lose that has haunted me for my whole life, I drive straight home, and met the butler outside, like he has







